A GREAT WEBSITE TO VISIT TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH MARCH HIGHLANDS

NOTICE: CLICK HERE AND TAKE 10 SECONDS TO VOTE FOR THE SOUTH MARCH HIGHLANDS.  IF WE WIN, OUR MAYOR GETS TO RECEIVE AN AWARD.  NOW WOULDN’T THAT BE SPECIAL -  AND IRONIC!

Stop the development NOW.

Do not buy a home from these two companies for it is they, Urbandale and Richcraft (and their company “KNL”), who destroyed this wilderness and who wish to destroy even more in two more phases within the forest.  Let us also not forget that they provided numerous flawed and highly questionable data to enhance their own financial benefit and used it as an excuse to cut down the Beaver Pond.  The City’s own study now confirms how flawed this data was!  They never ever should have been allowed to cut this forest down when they did.  Was it a mistake?  Can you possible make that many mistakes?  Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.  Will they respect the fact that Kizzel Wetland is now declared a Provincially Significant Wetland or will they just ignore that fact too and build right next to it?  And, will the City of Ottawa allow them to destroy this area in the next two phases?  Lots of questions to ponder.  But, ponder this.  Do not buy their homes anywhere in Ottawa.  Hurt them the only place they care.  Their pocketbook.  And don’t forget to remind them you are not a fan of their actions.

This huge white pine tree and many others just like it are located in the Beaver Pond forest.  

In fact this dense forest, this tree and the surrounding exposed Canadian Shield literally halted the advance of ‘The Great Fire of 1870’ which swept through the Township.  Known native sites are actually right within the Beaver Pond Forest and within the larger forest itself.  This forest is a loved treasure for so many reasons.  This forest is accessible to wheelchairs and people with limited physical capabilities.  An ecotourism opportunity awaits, allowing visitors to explore something they cannot see anywhere else within our own City.  As a G8 Capital City, a day exploring this old growth forest could enhance their visit to Ottawa.

For 30 years, this forest has seen citizens demand that it be protected. Now is the time, and we pledge to help make it happen.

January 1st, 2011 over 100 people met at the Beaver Pond

to commemorate the U.N. Year of the Forest and to ask for respect for the Native Communities wishes for a proper new Archaeological study.

Over 7000 People have now signed and pledged their support for this Plan (as of January 1) Join them.  Click Here

The Beaver Pond Forest is a part of the South March Highlands, just 20 minutes west of Parliament Hill.  It is an area so rugged and beautiful that you could bring a visitor - tell them they were within Algonquin Park - and they would believe you.  We can certainly consider it Ottawa’s Great Forest.

But we don’t. We call it a future subdivision, and the Beaver Pond Forest is literally weeks away from approval to cut it down.

This wilderness has 20 known Species at Risk.  Plus, it has another 18 on the Candidate list of species-at-risk!

Yet 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa, we literally have no idea what’s in here.

The President of the Canadian Biodiversity Institute states that the actual species list could number “in the thousands”, with experts stating that the bio-density in this wilderness may prove to be the among the most bio-diverse in Canada!  And this is Ottawa, not Algonquin Park!  For a future subdivision, this is prime land indeed.  (Visit our Science page for a complete known species listing and map details)

In 1981, the Provincial and Federal Parks Associations said that any future residential development should stop just south of the Beaver Pond as the Beaver Pond itself would provide a natural buffer to the great wilderness area north of it.  Since then, dozens of groups have demanded this forest should be spared destruction, including the David Suzuki Foundation and 4000+ people in the Facebook Group.

Why all the fuss? Well it’s because that Beaver Pond Forest has been used and loved so much because it is a uniquely special Algonquin looking forested area ideal for use as a recreational haven.  It is also the only accessible part of this forest for the elderly, those in wheelchairs or those with limited physical capabilities.  It’s used by hundreds of people everyday, thousands on sunny weekends - for mountain biking, jogging and exploring - and throughout the winter every single day for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more.

That’s the key to the success of the long term vision here.  If we save this ‘people forest’, visitors are far less likely to destroy or harm the abundant protected species within the overall wilderness region.  If we lose it, people will move their activities into the remaining wilderness and we will lose what has thus far been retained as a reserve.

And use it they do.

Visitors from all over Ottawa and Cities across Canada come here now.  The secret is getting out - and the spinoff ecotourism opportunities outlined within the Stewardship Plan demonstrate the economic potential for Ottawa.  This Plan shows our City Council that people will help to secure, finance and protect this forest, extending the use to include planned scientific research, education and enhanced recreational use at the Beaver Pond.  We want to see this amazing forested area and wetland reserve here for generations to come.

Ecotourism, education and research completed within this forest and wetland complex has never been established on a formal basis.  We have a Plan.

We need your support to save what we believe is an important portion of this overall forest. 

Update: On October 6th, 2010, City Council unanimously approved a motion to direct City Staff to find a way to trade lands for and/or acquire this important part of this wilderness.  But this is not a ‘sure thing’ - and Council can change their mind at their Nov. 19th meeting.  So we need to see this through to the successful conclusion of saving the Beaver Pond for all the potential it offers this City and Country.  See the Stewardship Plan and Sign It.

Update: In January, 2011 Mayor Watson decided to ignore the evidence and his responsibilities of note with regards to historical and a legal basis/requirement to see that the developer consult with the Algonquin, yet he ignored this requirement.  The Province said the City of Ottawa was the proponent of the developer, yet the refused to do anything to stop the development...and they could have.  He alone decided to pretend it was not his duty or his responsibility.  It was.  He is/was and has been 100% for development - at any cost - and he provided it by destroying the most precious land Ottawa has ever had in the past 150 years....for a subdivision.  Never let him pull the wool over your eyes.  These are political games, and a leader can take a stand on issues of the environment.  But he never even responded after 10,000 people made their voices heard.  Not a peep.  He rolled over...and he let this forest be cut down. 

Mayor Watson...Thank you for showing your true colours.  100 years from now, we will always remember that it was you who decided to play brinkmanship games to see our beloved SMH forest killed by your ignorance.  And you continue to ignore this situation as two more sections (phase 7 & 8) on the chopping block.  It’s never too late to do the right thing...but I actually have my doubts you care at all.  Now, if we had a photo opp...I’m sure you’d be here to smile for the camera and tweet about it.  Pathetic.

Note: The logo of Urbandale and Richcraft are likely trademarks are are owned by their respective holders.  Urbandale does not have TM on their logo.  Richcraft does.  However, with this disclaimer, it’s here so you can identify it.

About this Website

Above all else, this website was created to ensure easy access to data, documents, video and pictures of the Beaver Pond Forest and the South March Highlands.  I am not a researcher myself and therefore while I legally cannot guarantee the data, if you find any inaccuracies, I will correct these.  Some web pages are static and not updated should new info become available, however this is due to the fact that I can only update new data when I have time.  However, these static pages were accurate as far as I was aware when they were published.  The best source for raw data and research material I have seen is from Paul Renaud’s download site.  It is located here.  Paul continues to gather data from some incredible people within Ottawa.  This allows us to demand action and answers from the City officials and staff who continue to find ways to ignore laws or bend/break them for the developers benefit.  The flooding concern is disastrous - and a number of City Staff should be fired over this mess.  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Keep up the fight - and never let any developer take a single inch of this forest without a fight.  As a citizen deeply involved in this for a few years now - I have seen the lies, half truths and ignorance to our citizens first hand.  Could it be that someone at City Hall is in the back pocket of these developers?  With all of these lies and legal manoeuvres that City lawyers have stood behind, (including interpreting the subdivision agreement ALWAYS in the favour of the developer) - something smells rotten.   

Signed, Steven Hulaj

Ottawa’s Great Forest - A Stewardship Plan