AR-News: (CA) Pukaskwa wolves and caribou need your voice- Please call TODAY

[Wolves Ontario!]

Pukaskwa wolves need your voice on Thursday June 3rd!
Please call Minister Dombrowsky during Environment Week!

A proposed logging road to be built by forestry giant Domtar Inc. in the

White River Forest threatens Pukaskwa National Park's wolf population in
Ontario. The road will cut through an extensive wilderness corridor
along the park's northern boundary and will intersect the territories of
four wolf packs and an important Woodland Caribou Recovery zone. Nearly
half of the park's wolf population will be threatened by this road.
Caribou, a provincially
threatened species and wolves depend on large tracts of contiguous
roadless
wilderness to survive. Along with increased traffic of logging trucks,
this
road will open up previously remote wilderness to hunters, trappers,
snowmobilers and ATV users.

The Pukaskwa wolves are a unique population because they are a
genetically
isolated enclave of Gray wolves within Eastern Canadian wolf range.
Research
has shown that the park's wolf population has been in decline and that
47%
of wolf mortality can be attributed to human activities. In the absence
of
any laws to limit the number of wolves that can be shot or snared each
year,
this new network of logging roads could put the  Pukaskwa wolf
population in
a perilous position. Earthroots has asked Minister of Environment, Leona

Dombrowsky to order an environmental assessment of the logging road.

Call to Action
Earthroots is asking people to phone Minister Dombrowsky on
Thursday June 3rd at (416) 314-6790.  It will be more effective if
everyone calls her office on the same day. If enough people call, we
know she will make the right decision for Pukaskwa wolves! Only by
maintaining the pressure we have built will we be in a position to
ensure this wilderness area is truly protected. (If you are unable to
call the Minister's office this Thursday, please still place a call this
week or as soon as you can).

Though Minister Dombrowsky will not likely be answering the phone
herself,
she will be made aware of the popularity of this issue if a high volume
of
calls are placed on Thursday. You will either be able to speak with her
secretary or leave a voicemail.

A few things to consider saying:
> Introduce yourself and ask to leave a message for the Minister.

"I am concerned about the logging road Domtar proposes to construct
along
the northern boundary of Pukaskwa National Park. The road will cut
through a
wilderness corridor for wolves and a caribou recovery zone. Please let
Minister Dombrowsky know that I support Earthroots' request for an
Environmental Assessment (EA) of this road."

Once you have called, please email Earthroots at info at wolvesontario.org
so
that we can keep track of how many people have called the Minister's
office.

For background information:
An online TV station in Sault Ste. Marie has put together a news video
on
the road and its potential impact on the park.  You can view the program
at
www.ltvnews.com. Under Newscast, click on "more news" and then click on
"Pukaskwa logging road battle."

May 30th to June 5th is recognized as Environment Week across the
country.
The purpose of this week is to educate Canadians about the actions they
can
take for a healthier environment and bring attention to the many facets
of
the environment and the benefits of environmental protection. This is
the
perfect time and opportunity to make our concerns about the ecological
integrity of National Parks and the future of wolves and caribou known.

Thanks for your support!
Melissa

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Melissa Tkachyk, M.E.S.
Wolves Ontario! Coordinator

Wolves Ontario!
A Project of Earthroots

401 Richmond St. West
Suite 410
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3A8, Canada

phone: (416) 599-0152
fax:   (416) 340-2429

www.earthroots.org - Main Earthroots website

www.parkalert.org - Park Alert! Campaign
www.wolvesontario.org - Wolves Ontario! Project
www.oakridgesmoraine.com - Oak Ridges Moraine Campaign
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Earthroots is non-profit, grassroots, environmental organization
dedicated
to protecting wilderness, wildlife and watersheds through research,
education and action. Earthroots has 12,000 supporters in Canada.

Ontario Parks under threat! Find out more at www.parkalert.org