THUNDER BAY - The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is hoping to create a healthier Wishart Forest by growing the ecosystem and protecting
the watershed.
The LRCA hosted a public open house Thursday night at its administrative office on Conservation Road.
The session provided an overview of the new 20-year plan for forest management in Wishart Forest of Gorham Township.
“The goal is to get the forest to a healthy state,” LRCA public relations officer Ryan Mackett said. “Right now it’s a decadent forest - so it’s very old and there’s a lot of hazards.”
“When you have a forest that’s decadent, the likelihood of it lighting is higher.”
Wishart forest - located about 15 minutes north of County Fair Mall - is a property owned by the LRCA and offers trails and recreational opportunities.
“We’re trying to balance the biodiversity of the area, as well as the forest health itself,” he said.
“We are by no means clear-cutting Wishart forest, but there are some areas that are dead or dying that need to be addressed.”
Regrowth and regeneration - it will help with the overall health of the forest, and allow tree species such as jack pine and white pine to regenerate, the LRCA says.
“Once some of the hazard trees are removed, we’re going to be able to plant selectively in that area,” Mackett said. “Having these open areas will encourage young growth, and that’s the ideal condition for boreal forest.”
LRCA is working with foresters at KBM Resources Group to help initiate the plan. They will provide a presentation at the beginning of Thursday night's open house meeting.
The groups are encouraging the public to attend and will take any concerns into consideration for their final plan.
