3. Is it possible to extract recourses in Frontenac Arch but still keep a well balanced conserved environment?
2. How can sustainable tourism in Frontenac Arch positively affect the well being of various plant and animal species in the reserve?
1. When climate changes in Canada throughout the seasons, how can plant and animal species be protected from damage?
History and Indigenous People
The indigenous people that discovered this land played a bog roll in what the area is today. These people helped discover the land and had many important uses for the area which shaped the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve into what it is today. Historic elements and artifacts that were left behind help visitors think about and remember what the land was used for when it was first discovered.
The indegenous people that first discovered and took over the area used the land and resources very well. At first, the area was a central point to find minerals such as granite and mica. The area also had paths and was a central trading route through parts of Canada. Lastly, the area was used for a number of Canadian "firsts" including the first railway tunnel, it was a part of the first Canadian newspaper, and it was the sight of some of Canada's first stone mills. Since this area is now a "Biosphere Reserve", the area is not used this way anymore. However, artifacts and other elements that were left behind create amazing historical tourist attractions.
The indigenous people that inhabited and still inhabit the area are the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people.
Sustainable Practices
Lastly, Frontenac Arch has also taken time to promote education surrounding the area. The area includes programs that are able to teach visitors about the importance of sustainable practices and how people are trying to protect the area. Visitors may also learn about the rich history of the area and why it is used as a conservation area today. Educating visitors about these topics would teach them the importance of the reserve and may change their perspective on the natural area around them
Frontenac Arch has also made a large effort to help protect and support endangered species in the area. One of the ways they are helping these animals is by providing them with shelter and needed resources. Since the area is so large and environmentally friendly, this gives animals a chance to be free in the wild with all the different resources they need, including fresh air, water, and food. The area is also taking this one step further to protect these species by teaching people about these species and why they are endangered.
Frontenac Arch has taken action in many ways to help preserve the environment. One of these ways is that the beauty of nature in the area has helped the tourism aspect grow with its many attractions. Also, over the last couple decades, the area has not focused on the industries (agriculture, mining, etc.) that may harm the environment in different ways as the area can now conserve the environment without any industrial distractions. Lastly, since the early settlers left the area not much has changed. The area is able to grow freely just as it was hundreds of years ago.
Tourism
Sustainable tourism is focused on highly in Frontenac Arch and has been achieved in a number of ways. One of these ways is that the park supplies tourists with a number of different attractions to interact with, both natural and man made. Apart from the man made museums, Frontenac Arch has not made very many changes since the area was discovered and used by indigenous people. This allows tourists to see how the area was used by the first settlers and embrace the beauty of nature around them.
Frontenac Arch is home to a number of tourists attractions. One of these natural tourist attractions is Gordon Rock Shelter, an overhanging rock along a path that was formed by the elements and used as a shelter over the years. Another natural attraction is Mink Lake Lookout, the highest point in all of the reserve that supplies breathtaking views of the area. Apart from these, Frontenac Arch includes hiking trails, lakes, and other attractions for visitors to enjoy.
Native and Endangered Species
Endangered species include bald eagles and the snowshoe hare
Native animal species in the world include flying squirrels and black rat snake
Native plant species in the reserve are pitch pine trees and pignut hickory
General Information
Is located in the St. Lawerence lowlands landform region
The reserve is in the Southeastern climate region
Is located close to Kingston, Ontario
1842 permanent and 500 seasonal residents
Located at 43 degrees North Latitude and 77 degrees West Longitude
Granite used to be very important when it came to the local economy, but it is not as important now. From the late 1860s to early 2000s granite mining was very important for the local economy especially when it came to trading and construction. Nowadays, granite mining still occurs in Frontenac Arch, but is not practiced to the extent that it used to be.
Granite, a. valuable mineral that can be found in Frontenac Arch, can be used to manufacture many items including countertops, tiles, some homes/buildings, and it is used to pave roads as well.
Currently, the extraction method used in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve is underground mining. With this mining method being used, it pairs well with the area being called a "Biosphere Reserve". Although underground mining helps the area's economy by collecting valuable mineral, out of any extraction method that could have possibly been used, this method is the most sustainable when it comes to environmental protection.
By: Evan Forman
Unsustainable Granite Mining
A disadvantage of strip mining is that this extraction method has an extremely negative affect on the environment. This method involves destructing big chunks of land, therefore destroying large natural areas and animal habitats.
An advantage of strip mining is that thew method does not require as much money as other extraction methods.
This method of extraction was never used in Frontenac Arch by any company as this method would harm the environment as Frontenac Arch is meant to be used for conserving the environment
An unsustainable way of mining granite is strip mining. Strip mining involves destructing very large pieces of land at a time to look for valuable minerals
Resources and Production Information
Primary resources that have been extracted in Frontenac arch include granite and mica. These resources have been mined in this area since the 1800s and were very important to the area when it came to trading and manufacturing items.
The primary industries in this biosphere reserve include mining and agriculture this area used to be a central point in Ontario for trading and collecting this resource
Sustainable Granite Mining
One advantage of underground mining is that it is environmentally friendly as the method does not take over big chunks of nature. One disadvantage of this method is that compared to other methods, underground mining has a much higher cost.
The underground mining area in Frontenac Arch has been owned and operated by a number of people over the years. Until 1900, the area was owned and operated by Snider and Freeman of Perth before the area was bought by McClatchy and Hayden of Belleville from 1901-1902. In 1902 J.W Trausdale of Sydenham purchased the area and has never been bought over since
Underground mining has been relied on in the reserve for over 100 years. The method began being used in Frontenac Arch in the 1860s and the area has never used another method since then.
The most sustainable way granite (or any mineral) can be mined and had been mined is using underground mining. Underground mining involves building shafts beneath the earths surface using various tools and machinery that may hold valuable minerals.
