4.2 Fire History 12.
Complete a map showing the outline of all major fires in the period 1800 to 1929. It could be updated as additional historical records are located.
13.
Determine prehistoric fire frequency by examining charcoal in lake sediments. At a minimum, someone needs to do a thorough search for unpublished data which may already exist. If none can be found, a palynological lab should be hired to examine several cores representative of eastern Ontario.
14.
Review the literature on the effects of fire on forest ecosystems that is directly relevant to forest restoration in the MF region.
15.
Prepare a list of fire-dependent species and map their historical distributions. Compare this to existing knowledge on fire history. Provide guidelines for the management of fire dependent species.
16.
Given the information on fire dependence, is there evidence that fire should be introduced as a management tool? Are there candidate areas where this would be possible?
4.3 Public Education While carrying out this work, I as impressed by how little information is available, and how few historians have addressed forest related work. This led to the following recommendations. 17.
Prepare a book for the public on the original forests of eastern Ontario. This could be based upon this report, updated and improved by adding in the information obtained by carrying out these recommendations.
18.
Use this document to stimulate biology, history and geography departments at local universities to pursue related work on forest reconstruction and restoration.
19.
Produce a brochure on forest restoration targets and techniques to guide landowners.
4.4 Policy 20.
Evaluate and review Ministry of Natural Resources policies and activities which affect forest restoration. Suggest 5 to 10 priority actions to begin forest restoration.
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