The Prescott-Russell Stewardship Council is organizing a BioBlitz to be held in 
Larose Forest this year. Because so little work has been done in Larose, particularly 
as noted above, on insects, spiders, bryophytes, fungi, etc., this will be a really 
exciting day of discovery. Details have not been finalized yet, but it will most likely 
be held in mid-June. We’re looking for volunteers with a good knowledge of flora 
and fauna. Please consider joining in and helping us discover more about this 
remarkable forest. More information will be posted on the OFNC website, or you 
can contact me at vanessa@magma.ca for updates. 
The Future 
Until Larose Forest gains some form of strong protected status through the UCPR 
Official Plan, it is vulnerable to development pressures. Several times in recent 
months staff and politicians have called the forest “a jewel.” The UCPR website 
calls the forest “a unique resource” and states that it is important to ensure that 
“according to its mission, the Larose Forest gains a key place which will permit the 
promotion of the Larose Forest as being the natural reserve of the region of Prescott 
and Russell.” The wording is a bit ambiguous, nevertheless it seems the United 
Counties recognize the natural heritage value of Larose. However, the new Official 
Plan, now up for review, needs to state explicitly that the forest will be permanently 
protected. No ambiguities in wording. Ghislaine Rozon, the driving force behind 
the move to preserve and protect the forest from day one, has been working on 
sensible recommendations for the new UCPR Official Plan. Let us hope that the 
United Counties listen. 
Acknow ledgments 
Many thanks to all the people who have worked so hard to protect Larose Forest 
over the last four years, particularly the appellants in the OMB hearing who endured 
financial loss for a cause they believed in, and special thanks to Ghislaine Rozon for 
dedication to the cause and for never saying ‘‘I can’t.” 
References 
Brunton, Dan. 1998. Distributionally Significant Vascular Flora of the Region of 
Ottawa-Carleton. Prepared for Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. 
De Quimper, Alexandra. 2002. Grant. The People, the Settlement, the Story. Self- 
published. 
Hanrahan, Christine. 2004. The Larose Forest. T&L 38(1): 3-19. 
Murphy, Samantha and Meggan Sine. 2005. Assessing the Vulnerability of the 
Larose Forest. Unpublished report, prepared forCarleton University, 67pp. 
Vitols, Kristjan and Heather Hamilton. 1998. The Great Canadian Bio-blitz. T&L 
32(1): 13-32. 
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