Environmental group knows value of mining to economy

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is often at loggerheads with the mining industry on the issue of land use, but even this environmentally act group recognizes the economic importance of mining to the province. “Because of some existing conflicts between mining interests and those of our membership, we advocate a land-use planning process that allows for more public input,” says OFAH biologist Chris Horwath.

But, he says, the federation supports the economics of mining as long as mining is carried out in such a way as to minimize or its effect on the environment. His contention is that taking proper account of public concerns in early stages of land-use planning will limit future conflict.

When it comes to mining, the OFAH wants to see the utmost priority given to the outdoor recreation needs of Ontario citizens. Further, it believes that such businesses as mining, tourism and logging should appreciate these outdoor recreation needs and account for them in their day-to- day activities.

“We have seen some major mining related problems over the years, particularly with respect to the province’s fisheries,” Horwath said. “We know tailing areas, effluent from refining operations and mining activities near rivers and streams can lead to contaminated fish, degraded fish habitat and reduced water quality not only for the aquatic food chain but also for humans.”

The OFAH spokesman said that in some of the more ecologically fragile areas where exploration is conducted, the failure to properly rehabilitate an exploration site could result in dangerous environmental problems in the future. These problems, he said, might not even be foreseeable or understood for years. Appropriate clean-up at the completion of the project could produce savings in both financial and environmental terms.

Conflicts arise over land use most times new access roads are developed, although the federation says these conflicts arise more over forestry roads than over those developed for mining and exploration. “We’ll always show our concern about land use that creates access, particularly when public funds are used, then allows that access to be restricted to any privileged few. That practice will get people upset,” Horwath concluded.

The Peterborough-based OFAH is a 73,000-member association that supports the judicial use of renewable and non-renewable resources but retains serious concerns about the province’s land-use planning processes.

A powerful watchdog of the environment for its constituents, the 60-year-old OFAH is the largest and most actively influential conservation organization in Ontario.