four (i.e., Tweed, White River, Geraldton and Lindsay) have been approved by 

 the Minister of Lands and Forests. The remainder are being examined in prepar- 

 ation for approval. 



The Tweed District Land Use Plan is the first to be made using the site 

 classification evolved by the Research Branch. It is hoped that the production 

 of this plan will provide the stimulus needed to expedite the information for the 

 other districts in the province. 



RECREATION LAND USE PLANNING 



In each District north of and including the Parry Sound and Pembroke 

 Districts is an advisory committee made up of the District Forester as chairman, 

 the local Member of Parliament, a representative of the logging industry, a repre- 

 sentative of the Federation of Anglers and Hunters and a representative of the 

 Tourist Outfitters. These committees meet at least once a year to discuss recre- 

 ation plans in the districts concerned and make recommendations arising out 

 of discussions with the Minister. 



A report with the committee's recommendations is received from each of 

 the 16 districts having an Advisory Committee. These are considered by the 

 Minister — those approved are implemented. 



PRIVATE LANDS LIAISON COMMITTEE 



This committee is made up of three members of the Department of Agri- 

 culture and three members of the Department of Lands and Forests. Its purpose 

 is to discuss problems common to each Department and recommend solutions to 

 both Ministers. One meeting was held during the past year to discuss the partici- 

 pation of A.R.D.A. in the provincial site classification programme. 



WILDERNESS AREAS 



There are now 40 wilderness areas set aside under the Wilderness Areas 

 Act, 1959. During the past year three new areas were set aside — Shoal Lake 

 Wilderness Area in the Fort Frances District, Sankey Township Nature Reserve in 

 the Kapuskasing District and Blair Township Nature Reserve in the Parry Sound 

 District. 



In addition to the areas which have been set aside, there are a number of 

 other areas which are being considered. These are mostly what we call Nature 

 Reserves or reference areas. These are being recommended for their scientific and 

 biological interest. 



LAND ACQUISITION SECTION 



The Land Acquisition Section continued to expand its programme of pur- 

 chasing private lands for purposes of Park development, General Recreation, 

 Wilderness Areas, Access Points, Forest Management and District Improvement. 



Since the Land Acquisition programme commenced in the fall of 1963, 550 

 proposals representing 2,272,228 acres of land which may be acquired are on 

 file. Of these, 50 proposals, or part thereof, totalling 168,863 acres were rejected 

 as unsuitable to Department programmes or were rejected because the purchase 

 price was considered too high. Sixty proposals, with approximately 254,836 acres 

 are in an advanced stage of investigation or negotiation for acquisition. 



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