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ýRegion contemplating fate of Agreement Forest lands eBy RICHARD VIVIAN The C-hampion With a fresh invensory complet- ed, Halton Region is Iooking for public input on what to do with the more than 1,600 acres of Agreement Forest. Though owned by the Region, the 14 tracts of forest were masi- aged by the Ministsy of Natural Resources fromn the 1950s until 1996, when management was returned to their owners across the province. The majority of tracta arc found north of Hwy. 401, south of No. 25 Sideroad, wcst of Dublin Line, and eaat of First Line. "We're jut as thc beginning of thc plan preparation procesa, so we're here aaking the people what Uiey want fromn thc foreat," Halton Region Senior Planner Patricia Hcrring taid at an Agreement Forest open boute Tueaday. "They (public) may point out tome Uiings Uiat we wouldn't even Uiink of." Since carly îpring, Uic Region baa been conducting an in-dcpUi inventory of wildlife and plant life on cach of Uic tracta. That informa- tion will be uscd in detcrning what practices should bc imiple- mcnled bo continuc preservation wbile allowing paasivc rccreational usea. "Whatver uaes conte out Of it (management plan), I Uiink Uic and firou a MatuMa contmnucd protection is inipera- tive," said Councillor Barry Lee, who represens regional council on Uic Agreement Forcst Management Plan Public Liaison Comnittce. "Mei Province actually did tome good work years ago in putting Uiese tracts aside. They showed a lot of foresight. I Uiink our respon- sibility, wiUi public input, is to con- tinue Uiat protection." Openi to Uic public, Uic forcsts sec use year-round. Depcnding on Uic specifie tract, uses range fromn hiking, birding, and cross-country tkiing to anowmobiling and hunt- ing. But limitations could be comning to stme of Uic more ccologically tensitive tracts, said Michael Hssbicki, a management consultant hired by thse Region. The tracta most likely to have accesa limited are in Uic Hilton Falls ares, he added. "They're quite spectacular foresta and from a natural histouy standpoint, Uiey're quise special." Confident Uiat preservasion of Uic forest wili continue, members of Uic public assending Uic open boute held widely différent views of what recreational activities should be pcrmittcd in Uic forests. "I think Uiey (thc Region and their consultants) have a pretty good grasp of what I'd like to sec happen," said Milton resident Bull Robertson. "I'd also like to sec no hunting and no snowmobiling." But feliow Milton resident Bull MePhedran, an avid hunter and* anowmobiler, would like to sec those activities increaaed. The best way to approach increased activity, he said, is to market each tract sep- arately for Uieir specifle uses. The management plan is far fromt tinished at this point. Public com- ment and consultation wiUi public agenciet like Conservation Halton and Uic Niagara Escarpment Commission will be used to draft a serica of objectives and goals. From Uiere, action strategies will be developcd before a draft man- agement plan is created. A second public meeting will be held foliowing Uic release of Uic draft plan before revisiona are sent to regional coundil for approval. No date lias been set for the meeting- he Canadian Champion, Friday, September 21, 2001-4 W'N~~ 'NýET Everg Monday, ail goui mn ust... 0ur rnowned juimbo tattw... Monday NigJit Iootball... pe~t pergon sot avallablo fùr take-out 51al i atM in Milton Mali SS Ontmtio *Mrot goutl eV% l.ls tsilby Mak Fi. dmw on tue, t iW the MMIq île Abea SiM peVeý tSi. Euh *W l bre M m Ibàl I Uuqu5on Wcm0 *«M 01 he mk5.SIosUake, pwes"udumafi«Sý Lo"ubemaaPtlK Please send me: L~Ticket(s) at $40 each =$ I SSet(s) of 3 tickets for $100 =$LiZi ~aiss~~oaaome.saSuse Total =$ EE