Catchacoma Old Growth Forest
The Science
Science Reports - Ancient Forest Exploration and Research
Ancient Forest Exploration & Research (AFER) is a non-profit charitable organization formed in 1992. AFER is dedicated to research and education focused on ancient and old-growth forests in Ontario. AFER’s research has identified and described old-growth forests throughout Ontario including the Temagami region, Algonquin Park, the Lower Spanish Forest, the GTA Greenbelt area, and Peterborough County. AFER has also mapped and described three wildlife corridors in Ontario including the Algonquin to Adirondacks Wildlife Corridor, the Temagami to Algonquin Wildlife Corridor, and the Superior-Temagami Wildlife Corridor.
Under the direction of Dr. Peter Quinby, AFER has conducted numerous and extensive studies on the Catchacoma Old Growth Forest and it is these which form the scientific, economic and environmental foundations for our conservation work.
Relevant AFER reports are listed below with links to the full documents.*
Reports
Rapid Initial Ecological Survey of Wetlands in the Catchacoma Forest (FLB #39, 2023)
Catchacoma Forest Species Inventory 2022 Field Season (RR #45, 2023)
Environmental Education and Public Outreach: Catchacoma Forest, PART 2 only (RR #44, pt 2, 2023)
Carbon Storage and CO2 Produced by Logging in the Catchacoma Forest (RR #43, 2023)
Mother Tree Survey in the Central Portion of the Catchacoma Forest, Update (PRB #13, 2022)
2022 Field Season Results Update, Catchacoma Forest, Trent Lakes, Ontario (PRB #12, 2022)
Establishing a Long-term, Permanent-Plot Research Program: Report Methods (RR #42, 2022)
Natural Heritage Values of the Unprotected Catchacoma Forest (RR #42, 2021)
Rapid Old-growth Survey in the Heart of the Catchacoma Forest by YLS Students (PRB #11, 2021)
Rapid Assessment of Old-growth Characteristics in the Catchacoma Forest (PRB #9, 2020)
Catchacoma Forest Species and Habitat Inventory (RR #39, 2020)
Catchacoma Forest Natural (Ecosystem Services) Capital vs Timber (Logging) Value (FLB #37, 2020)
The Catchacoma Ancient Hemlock Forest: Largest of its Type in Canada (FLP #35, 2019)
Catchacoma Forest Site Visit Report (SVR #7, 2019)
Logging and Forest Management Planning
Timeline of Public Participation in Catchacoma Forest Management
Current Logging Map for the Catchacoma Forest
Draft Forest Management Plan (Bancroft Minden Forest Region)
Independent Forest Audit of the Bancroft-Minden Forest (2018)
Final FSC Audit of the Bancroft Minden Forest Company (2021)
Sign-on Letter to Pursue Protection for the Catchacoma Forest
Forest Management Planning in Ontario
2. Management Concerns & Plan Review Submissions
Review of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2021-2031 (May 6, 2021)
Review of Proposed Operations 2021-2031 for Bancroft Minden Forest (Feb. 1, 2021)
Unresolved Issues from the LTMD Review submitted on Oct. 15, 2020 (Nov. 17, 2020)
Letter to Bancroft-Minden Forest Company - New FSC Standard (June 1, 2020)
Meeting Notes: with Bancroft-Minden Forest Company & MNRF (Feb. 13, 2020)
Letters to the MNRF and MECP (Dec. 5, 2019)
Letter to Bancroft Minden Forest Company - Old Growth at Catchacoma (Nov. 4, 2019)
Youth Leadership in Sustainability Letter to Bancroft Minden Forest Company (Nov. 4, 2019)
3. Responses from the Forest Management Team
Proposed Operations Review Response from MNRF (Feb. 24, 2021)
Species-at-risk at the Catchacoma Forest, Response from MNRF (Jan. 22, 2021)
Unresolved Issues, Response from MNRF (Jan. 11, 2021)
LTMD Review Response from MNRF (Nov. 4, 2020)
Other Resources
Educational Experiences in the Catchacoma Forest: A Brochure (2023)
Species-at-risk in and near the Catchacoma Old-Growth Forest (2020)
* Data from the AFER Web site. www.ancientforest.org
“The trees encountered on a country stroll
Reveal a lot about that country’s soul…
A culture is no better than its woods.”