The “Friends of Wabakimi”…

The “Friends of Wabakimi” strongly supports the expansion of conservation reserves and other protected areas within the Wabakimi Area. The existing protected habitat is fragmented and is not big enough to support a viable, free ranging caribou population. The caribou outside of the park are greatly diminished and rest at high risk from roads and logging in prime caribou habitats. It is necessary to provide buffers to expand existing protected areas. “Bridges” created by the Ontario Government to connect existing protected areas would build big blocks of uninterrupted caribou habitat. Creating big blocks of caribou habitat will also protect and maintain a host of other boreal species that share caribou habitat. Our goal is to connect the dots to make bigger blocks of uninterrupted habitat and necessary range.

The Wabakimi Area is one of the few places where it is possible to create a block of habitat that is big enough to support threatened caribou. This wilderness complex will provide opportunities for research and provide a host of recreational activities. The Wabakimi Area should be a model for caribou conservation in Ontario.

Finally, the “Friends of Wabakimi” feel that wilderness is an important value to be preserved by the Ontario Government. Providing permanent protection for the area’s nomination(s) will help to enhance the important values of the Wabakimi Wilderness. This wilderness also creates exceptional recreation and tourism values adjacent to Wabakimi Provincial Park. This helps to maintain existing and potential eco-tourism business opportunities and contributes to the to the Armstrong, Savant Lake, six adjacent First Nations, reginal and provincial economies.