In October of 2007, Tembec held an Open House in Winnipeg, a required public consultation component for their Forest Management License. The Wilderness Committee attended the event in order to ask Tembec questions about their plan. What we discovered was that Tembec refused to answer any questions for us. It is expected that Tembec, a corporation that operates on public land in this province, answer the questions and concerns raised by a citizens group such as the Wilderness Committee. What Tembec's action demonstrates is that they have something to hide, and their plans are suspect.

Their refusal to answer questions should be enough to negate their Forest Management License, which gives them permission to operate on public lands. Large, profit-driven multinational corporations operating on public land that refuse to submit to public scrutiny are detrimental to the well-being of our province.

The following three images were taken of Tembec's displays at the Open House. Some of the reasons why the Wilderness Committee must continue to investigate Tembec's plans become very evident when the data in these images is explained.

One of the Model Forest Network panels, which explains the important bird surveys they are working on. The problem is that one of the most prominent scientists working on bird surveys in the province, Dr. Peter Taylor, nominated a section of Nopiming Park for protection. The proposed Springer Lake Ecological Reserve was nominated because it is the location of the longest running annual bird survey in Nopiming Park. The data from this site can never be replicated anywhere else, ever, as no annual survey plots are as old. If the Model Forest Network were truly interested in protecting the forest and doing research, they would have worked on moving forward with protecting this site. Instead the site ended up on the chopping block. It was listed as a clearcut logging area in Tembec's 2003 annual logging plan. The proposed Ecological Reserve was removed from the logging plan in 2007 after objections from the Wilderness Committee, and an apology letter was sent out by Tembec indicating the area should not have been listed as a logging site. Unfortunately the map of Tembec's logging plans again shows that they are thinking of clearcutting the proposed Springer Lake Ecological Reserve some time in the future.

The Model Forest Network panel describing their woodland caribou work mentions an experimental harvest in caribou habitat. It also mentions leaving at least two-thirds of the caribou winter habitat. This is illegal. No logging is allowed in caribou habitat in Manitoba. In 2006 the Manitoba government finally listed the caribou as a "threatened species" under the Endangered Species Act. The Manitoba Endangered Species Act (MESA) states that:
"10(1) No person shall (b) destroy, disturb or interfere with the habitat of an endangered species, a threatened species or an extirpated species that has been reintroduced;"
What is required is that the caribou winter habitat not be logged at all. Period.

The clearest evidence of Tembec's disregard for the environment is found on the planning map. The map shows areas that they are going to clearcut log in, which are circled. It also shows where Tembec is thinking about clearcut logging, as is evidenced by the harvest data and road plans. Tembec will undoubtedly say they aren't going to operate in these regions, and the map simply shows the clearcut logging potential of the forest. Unfortunately Tembec's word is suspect. In January 2007 they told the media they weren't going to log along the Manigotagan in caribou habitat. In March 2007 that forest was razed and they were operating 24 hours a day in the region.

The planning map shows Tembec has been looking at establishing permanent roads into every remaining section of old forest in Nopiming. This will have an irreversible impact on the ecosystems in Nopiming Park.

The northeast corner of Nopiming Park is adjacent to a protected area in Ontario, Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. In the 1992 Clean Environment Commission report, this section of Nopiming was singled out as an area that should be protected as an Ecological Reserve. Instead of following this recommendation, Tembec is listing this region as a clearcutting area, and extending all-weather logging roads through the region. This is part of their proposed action, circled on the map, meaning they plan to devastate this area in the next 20 years.

An unconscionable action that Tembec is thinking about but not listing in their 20-year plan is an all-weather road into the heart of the woodland caribou calving grounds located between Flintstone Lake and Rabbit River. Despite independent scientific recommendations and GPS collar data that demonstrates the caribou are using the area for summer calving, Tembec will not protect the area south of Black Lake and north of the Rabbit River. Caribou require vast stretches of undisturbed area to live. The amount of area they require increases during calving, and if they are disturbed during calving they often abort and do not give birth that year. What Tembec's plan to devastate the calving ground amounts to is an execution warrant for the woodland caribou of Nopiming.

What is required is that Tembec not only refrain from clearcut logging the areas listed above, but that Tembec voluntarily protect these areas, and list them that way on their operating maps. Tembec also must voice their support for permanently protecting these areas under Manitoba law. Until both of these steps are taken we will have to continually monitor Tembec's plans and actions.

Tembec has demonstrated that they do not care to protect the environment, the provincial park, or woodland caribou. They can not be trusted to care for a provincial park. The most important step which must be taken, the one that a vast majority of Manitobans expect, and that the environment commission has stated must be done, is that they must stop logging in Nopiming Provincial Park. Tembec's Forest Management License expires on December 31, 2008. Nopiming Provincial Park must be removed from their forest tenure when a new license is issued. Protecting all of Nopiming from industrial activity will ensure that this wild and natural place survives.