Natalie Jackett, conservation co-ordinator for the Gap project at CPAWS OV.
Did you know that an important wildlife corridor runs through North Renfrew, near Deep River, in the United Township of Head, Clara and Maria?
Called the Algonquin to Dumoine ‘Gap,’ the region, located on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, has unique ecology and geography, contributing to one of the last north/south wildlife corridors in all Eastern North America.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV) will be conducting research, education, community engagement, and recreation in the Gap and they want to hear from you.
Two information sessions are planned for Monday, April 22, fittingly being held on Earth Day. CPAWS-OV will outline their plan at these sessions, as well as gather feedback.
Natalie Jackett, conservation co-ordinator for the Gap project at CPAWS OV, explains that CPAWS is an environmental non-government organization and the only charity dedicated to protecting public parks, public lands and wilderness.
The Gap Project is sort of a bridge for the network of CPAWS-OV-led essentially protected areas, she explained.
In 2018, CPAWS was able to secure protection of the Dumoine River Aquatic Reserve, which is across the Ottawa River, in southwestern Quebec, said Jackett.
That new, protected area is of one of the last wild, undammed rivers in all of southern Canada, which is pretty remarkable, she noted.
Only 18 kilometres separate the Valley’s two largest protected areas – the Dumoine Reserve and Algonquin Park. Species including black bear, deer, moose and wolves migrate between the areas. CPAWS-OV is working to ensure the areas remain wild and free so those who wish to can continue to hunt, fish, camp, off-road and snowmobile in the area while giving species the space to maintain healthy populations.
Jackett says the info sessions are a way to introduce CPAWS-OV to the community.
“Basically, we want to make our presence known within the adjacent communities and essentially hear from communities and what their visions, ideas, priorities are with regards to conservation, recreation, resource development, etc.,” she said.
Community input is vitally important.
“No project can be successful with the pre-prior informed consent of people that are living there, but also we’re going to be doing our best to work with the inherent tree holders of the land, who are the Algonquin Anishinaabe,” she said.
Who does she hope to hear from at the sessions?
“I want to talk to people who are engaged in recreation, whether that be hunting, ATV-ing, snowmobiling, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, etc. People who are active outdoorspeople,” she said.
Those who are in the resource extraction industry, transportation and those working in the green economies – including tourism and eco-tourism – could also have valuable input.
She’s hoping the sessions will be well-attended.
“We’re not coming to north Renfrew to determine and tell people what we’re doing. We want to hear what the community wants and we want to support the community and start sort of a grassroots campaign to enhanced protection within the region,” said Jackett.
Monday’s first session runs from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Head, Clara and Maria town hall. The second runs from 5-7 p.m. at the Deep River Public Public Library.
For more information visit cpaws-ov-vo.org.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)
Grants Creek Provincial Park is located within the Gap area.