Threats to the land

Prior to the 1800s, the indigenous population in the eastern Georgian Bay lived in small settlements that were sustained by fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering of edible plants. Transportation routes consisted merely of Nastawgans - ancient aboriginal trails.

In the late 19th century Europeans moved into the region and began commercial fishing and the harvesting of large white pines with the new efficiencies provided by the Industrial Revolution.

The combined effects of large-scale timber harvesting with human and naturally caused forest fires reduced the overall quality of the forests, leaving the landscape severely degraded and characterized by extensive rock barrens. There are almost no original or old-growth forests remaining in the area.

Since that time, forestry activities along the coast have, for the most part, been localized and selective in nature. But today's roads, utility corridors, urban areas and shoreline cottage development divide the landscape into smaller and smaller patches, particularly in areas of private land.

Highways and roads are avoided by several mammal species with large home ranges. They reduce the amount of interior habitat for area-sensitive bird species and other fauna. Road traffic is also the cause of high levels of carnage among many mammal, reptile and amphibian species. Road and utility corridors, skidder trails, as well as cleared land for agriculture and residential areas, provide ideal opportunities for invasion by exotic species, which often become established and displace native flora.

The popularity of Georgian Bay for recreation and commercial exploitation will only increase as road access is improved. Incremental, cumulative impacts seem inevitable.