Amendment to Regulation Limiting Campsite Tent-count

Verification has been received from Greg Wake [Supervisor, Provincial Park Management] that in January of 2011 the tent-count restriction on interior campsites had been lifted. The amendment was Ontario Regulation 22/11 .. made under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserve Act 2006 (Amending O. Reg. 347/07).

7. (1) Subsection 19 (1) of the Regulation is amended by striking out campground camp-site, interior camp-site or unserviced camp-site and substituting campground camp-site or unserviced camp-site. (Ref.: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2011/elaws_src_regs_r11022_e.htm)

Mr Wake confirmed the amendment and explained that regulations forbidding cutting or damaging any living tree or other plants would provide adequate regulation against degradation of campsites.

Sponsorship Support Received From Algonquin Outfitters

Today, the ABR received $500 sponsorship support from Algonquin Outfitters.

These sponsorship funds will underwrite the ABR's website and online forum operating expenses for the coming year.

In addition, we are glad to announce that Algonquin Outfitters will be partnering with Leave No Trace Canada and will be incorporating the LNT skills and ethics principles into their own customer-service program.

Also, in recognition of the importance of LNT, the ABR and AO are committed to being actively co-supportive of each other's LNT efforts.

ABR Will Be In CSA SFM Certification Advisory Group

The ABR has accepted the Algonquin Forestry Authority's invitation to sit on their Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management Certification Advisory Group as a representative of recreationalists interests.

As the ABR's participation in the CSA Advisory Group proceeds, details will be recorded on a new section of this website here.

Details Of Spring/Fall Haulage Routes Will Be Added To The AFA's Schedule Of Operations Map

The ABR recently requested that more AFA haulage route information (Spring/Fall haulage routes) be included in the AFA's Schedule of Operations map.

The AFA's resulting agreement to provide this extra information will allow recreationalists to better avoid unpleasant noises associated with logging operations.

Read more ...

Formal Relationship With Algonquin Park and The Friends of Algonquin Park

The ABR has entered into a formal memorandum of understanding with Algonquin Provincial Park and The Friends of Algonquin Park regarding the education and promotion of Leave No Trace Canada principles in Algonquin Provincial Park.

The parties agree to work collaboratively on educating the public by using a number of mediums, including print, internet and video.

On matters of mutual interest, the parties agree to share information and knowledge of best practices in implimenting Leave No Trace principles in Algonquin Park.

The parties will meet annually to review Leave No Trace programs, activities and products .. and to set priorities for the following year.

This united effort will support an integrated and consistent approach to promoting and educating park visitors on the seven principles of Leave No Trace Canada in order to ...

-   Increase knowledge sharing and enhance relationships between the parties in order to be consistent, co-ordinated and efficient in promoting Leave No Trace principles.

-   Maximize capacity of financial and human resources in promoting the Leave No Trace principles.

Submission to Ontario Land Claims Negotiating Team

The ABR Executive Committee has submitted a position paper to the Ontario Negotiating Team for the Algonquins of Ontario Land Claims process. Given the ABR's goals “To preserve, protect and enhance wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park”, it was considered prudent to convey its concerns and hopes to the negotiating team's Committee of External Advisors.

The ABR position paper addressed the issues of protected zones, access controls, Algonquins of Ontario facilities, and fisheries/wildlife sustainability. The submission closed with the hope that a land claims settlement can be crafted which will recognize the interests of all affected parties .. an arrangement which will care for Algonquin Park through co-operative and integrated management .. dedicated to the sustainability of the park's resources for all future generations.

ABR Questioned AFA Report Recommendations

On May 2nd, the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists submitted, to both Algonquin Park Management and the Algonquin Forestry Authority, concerns over two recommendations contained in the AFA's Year 10 Annual Report for the Algonquin Park Forest (Plan Period April1, 2005 to March 31, 2010 .. for the year April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010).

Responses were received from both the Algonquin Forestry Authority and Algonquin Park Management.

The Algonquin Park response confirmed that the Park Management Plan has full authority, that its terms are there for valid reasons, and that the AFA's FMP Planning Team has to adhere to the Park Management Plan.   Read more ...
May 9, 2011.

Single LNT Education Program For Algonquin Park

On January 11th, members of the ABR Executive Committee met with representatives of Algonquin Park and established a co-operative working relationship for the development of the park's Leave No Trace educational program. Jim Murphy and Rick Stronks were in attendance from Algonquin Park. Mark Steele, Barry Bridgeford, Bill Warren and Mark Rubino were there representing the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists executive committee.

Key elements of the program were determined and priorities were agreed upon. The park's LNT educational program will address both frontcountry and backcountry LNT skills and ethics. The ABR is committed to fulfilling an important role in helping develop the backcountry component of the program. Of special importance in this process will be increased opportunities for the ABR's general membership to become involved.
January 12, 2011.