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In general, in the south, the road network imposed by early land surveys does not reflect the natural lay of the land except in places where cliffs, rivers and wetlands defied our settler's best efforts. More than anywhere else in Ontario, the effects of forest fragmentation by roads and agricultural conversion, and now by urbanization, have been profound on many migratory birds, especially those requiring forest-interior habitats. In the Carolinian Life Zone, we know that over 80 percent of forest patches are less than three hectares and only 18 are larger than 500 hectares.
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We also know from work underway by Ontario Nature and the Long Point Bird Observatory that the larger woodlands can still support healthy populations of forest-interior species and that smaller woodlots can also do so if there is, overall, a reasonable amount of forest cover left on the local landscape. Road-building issues remain important across the south. In 1985, the highway 89 extension through the Holland River Marsh, one of the largest remaining wetlands left in southern Ontario, was cancelled after much public controversy. In 1996, the construction of highway 407 through woodlots is equally as controversial. One of the largest roadfree areas left anywhere close to the Greater Toronto Area is Matchedash Township, where more than 10,000 hectares of roadless area still exist, almost all on public land. It was through this area that highway 400 was originally planned. A major opportunity for wilderness protection exists in Matchedash, even more so because of an existing MNR commitment that there will be no new road-building, forest management, aggregate or mining in large parts of the township. On an even more local scale, the new Rouge Valley Park has been approached by participating agencies to approve construction of an internal road system, complete with numerous river bridges, through the last large roadless area in Metro Toronto. In Richmond Hill, an environmental assessment is being conducted as to whether Bayview Avenue should be pushed through forested areas on the Oak Ridges Moraine just east of Bond Lake. Elsewhere, many local residents know well the kinds of issues that simmer around unopened or unmanaged road allowances and inappropriate plans to open them up for various uses. Next: Roadless Wilderness Values |