Renfrew County Forest

One of the many ways climate change is affecting the Renfrew County Forest is through drought-related tree mortality. Since the severe drought of 2012, we've seen an increasing decline of red pine growing on shallow soils.

One example can be found at Germanicus Tract, where a red pine plantation near the road began declining rapidly after the 2012 drought. An investigation showed the affected trees were growing on very shallow soil over bedrock, leaving them especially vulnerable during prolonged dry periods.

Drought often doesn't kill trees on its own. Instead, it weakens them, allowing naturally occurring pathogens like Armillaria Root Rot to take hold. The fungus spreads underground through root systems, creating expanding patches of dead and dying trees. In some cases, blue stain fungi invade the wood before the tree has even died, making it unsalvageable.

Over the past decade, we've increased monitoring of these susceptible sites during dry years. Sometimes this means harvesting red pine plantations earlier than planned to recover value before the wood deteriorates. As these sites are regenerated, we're favouring more drought-tolerant species like oak while keeping a close eye on research from the Friends of the Petawawa Research Forest and the Forest Gene Conservation Association.

Forestry has always been about planning for the future. As our climate changes, that future means adapting our forests to the conditions they'll face in the decades ahead.

🌳Renfrew County Forest Feature: Douglas Tract🌲

The Douglas Tract was purchased by the County in 1969 and has a long and varied management history, including the reforestation of abandoned farm fields in 1970, small clearcuts and planting in the early 2000s and most recently, management to remove declining overstory poplar in 2025, already sprouted back with a sea of green.

If you've noticed trees suddenly dying in Renfrew County, you're not alone - although the cause has been building for more than a decade.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first detected in Renfrew County in 2013, but the impacts are very visible this year. In winter, you may have noticed the outer bark of ash trees stripped off. This happens when woodpeckers are excavating the EAB larvae for a winter snack. In the last few months, many ash trees are significantly declining or have failed to leaf out. Most of the County is in the peak EAB infestation now, including Douglas Tract, where we noticed infestation while preparing to harvest in 2025.

🪲 What is emerald ash borer?

Emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle from Asia whose larvae feed beneath the bark of ash trees, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients until the tree dies.

Ash was widely planted as a street and shade tree after Dutch elm disease devastated elm populations in the 1970s and 1980s. In Renfrew County, ash also occurs naturally throughout hardwood and mixedwood forests, along roadsides and fencerows, and is the dominant tree in ecologically valuable black ash swale ecosystems.

While emerald ash borer cannot be eradicated, there are steps we can all take to help slow the spread of this and other invasive forest pests:

🌳 Don't move firewood. Transporting firewood is one of the primary ways invasive insects spread to new areas.

🌳 If you have ash trees on your property, consider planting a diversity of new tree species now to help maintain tree cover as older ash decline.

🌳 Treatment options are available for high-value landscape trees, but they are generally not practical in natural forests.

🌳 Pre-emptive removal of healthy ash trees is not recommended. It's also important to know that Ontario's Species Conservation Act provides protections for black ash in some areas of Renfrew County, meaning there may be restrictions on removing these trees.

Learn more about emerald ash borer from the Invasive Species Centre and about black ash protections under Ontario's Species Conservation Act:
• https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/meet-the-species/invasive-insects/emerald-ash-borer-duplicate-471/
• https://www.ontario.ca/page/black-ash-0

🌲Tract Feature: Deacon 🌲
As one of the most-frequented Renfrew County Forests, the Deacon Tract connects to the popular Pakkatinna Trail. It is a beautiful spot enjoyed daily by hikers, bikers, ATV and snowmobile riders, and is a popular hunting spot.

Unfortunately, high traffic and easy access have led to a serious issue: illegal dumping. 🚯

While we will spare you the messy details of what we have cleaned up over the years, the longest-lasting damage comes from yard waste. Dumping garden waste has introduced invasive plants that threaten natural plants and ecosystems.

What we are doing about it:
⚖️ Revised our prohibitory by-law (79-24) to significantly increase fines.
📸 Installed surveillance in problem areas.
🚔 Pursuing charges against offenders to cover clean-up costs.
🌿 Sending staff to control invasive plants and clear out trash.

We know that the vast majority of forest users practice "Leave No Trace," and we truly appreciate the care you show for our natural environment.

👀 See something? Say something. If you have any information about misuse or dumping in the Renfrew County Forests, please call us directly at 613-735-7288 or email [email protected]. Help us keep forests beautiful!

County of Renfrew North Algona Wilberforce Township Renfrew County ATV Club

One of the most remarkable things about forests is their resilience.

Last fall, Crow's Nest Tract gave us a firsthand look at just how quickly a forest can begin to recover after disturbance.

In October 2025, Renfrew County experienced an unusually active late-season wildfire period. One of those fires burned through part of Crow's Nest Tract before being quickly extinguished by the Laurentian Valley Fire Department, with support from Ministry of Natural Resources ground crews and water bombers.

When our forestry staff visited the site soon afterward, they weren't just looking at the damage—they were looking at how the forest responded.

🪓 A history of good management made a difference. About 20 years ago, this stand was partially harvested to remove declining trees and create more growing space for healthy ones. With less standing fuel available, the fire remained mostly a low-intensity ground fire rather than climbing into the forest canopy.

🌲 Some trees are built for fire. White pine and red oak are species that evolved alongside periodic fire. The blaze burned away the thick layer of leaf litter and reduced some of the competing understory, creating conditions that can favour these species. An excellent acorn crop last fall may give red oak seedlings an added advantage—although resilient species like ironwood are already sprouting back.

💦 Fire reminds us how forests naturally function. Many of the practices used in sustainable forest management are designed to emulate natural disturbances like wildfire. Fire creates openings, exposes mineral soil that helps species like pine and oak establish, leaves irregular stand edges, and often burns right to the edge of wetlands while leaving wetter areas largely untouched. Seeing these natural processes unfold reinforces decades of forest ecology research that guides how we manage the Renfrew County Forest today.

The photos below were taken just months apart. The first shows the area immediately after the fire, where it burned most intensely through a dry wetland. The second shows how quickly the area has already begun its recovery—a powerful reminder that change is a natural part of a healthy forest.

County of Renfrew Township of Laurentian Valley Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

The Crooked Fence Tract certainly lives up to its name—the old fence is, in fact, quite crooked—but there's much more to discover here than just its namesake.

Evidence of an old homestead remains, including a poured concrete foundation that suggests it was built later than many of the historic farmsteads found throughout the Renfrew County Forest. Today, the tract features a mix of red pine plantations and diverse natural forest. Natural white pine area was managed using a "shelterwood harvest" (a partial harvesting system) in 2014, then planted with white pine seedlings in 2017 to help establish the next generation of forest.

Crooked Fence's location also makes it especially important for wildlife. It's part of a major deer yard—an area where white-tailed deer gather during the winter to take advantage of shelter from deep snow and harsh weather. When forest operations are underway, packed snow trails and fresh tree tops left after harvesting can make the area even more attractive to deer.

Forestry staff and logging crews have shared stories of feeling like they're being watched while working here—and often, they are. Curious deer have been known to quietly follow people through the woods, perhaps finding reassurance in human activity while keeping an eye out for one of the area's other winter residents: wolves.

The Renfrew County Forest is more than a working forest—it's home to thriving wildlife and the natural relationships that have shaped these landscapes for generations.

🌲 Reminder: Public Review & Comment Opportunity🌲
The Draft 2027–2036 Forest Management Plan for the Renfrew County Forest is still available for public review and comment until July 31.

The Renfrew County Forest spans 6,540 hectares across 54 separate properties throughout the County. This updated plan outlines the objectives, strategies, and operational direction for the sustainable management of these forests over the next 10 years, from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2036.

We invite residents, forest users, neighbours, and anyone with an interest in the Renfrew County Forest to review the draft plan and share their feedback during the 60-day comment period, which closes on July 31, 2026.

View the Draft Forest Management Plan here:
https://arcg.is/11v1ai2

A comment intake survey is included at the bottom of the webpage.

Draft 2027-2036 Forest Management Plan Draft 2027-2036 Forest Management Plan for the Renfrew County Forest

🌲Connaught Tract Feature🌳
Although it may be one of the smaller tracts of the Renfrew County Forest, Connaught offers a surprising diversity of forest conditions for a property in such close proximity to the farmland of the Micksburg area.

Beautiful white pine and red oak perch on rocky outcrops in a landscape more reminiscent of Algonquin Park than agricultural eastern Ontario. Just a short walk away, the terrain changes dramatically to rich forest soils supporting an impressive mix of tree species.

The nearby community of Connaught, after which the Tract is named, shares its name with the historic Irish province of Connaught (now more commonly spelled Connacht), reflecting the Irish heritage that is deeply woven into the history of the Ottawa Valley. Added to the County Forest in 1972, little is known about the specific homesteading history of this parcel.

As one of the least-explored corners of the Renfrew County Forest, Connaught still holds plenty of mystery. Because access is only possible through neighbouring private lands (and requires landowner permission) it has remained a quiet forest where nature has largely been left to tell its own story.

Chippoir’s Corner Tract is a rugged landscape. The soils are shallow with significant exposed bedrock, and as a result, the red pine planted here haven't thrived. In 2018, some plantations had to be salvaged due to decline, likely due to drought impacts and inadequate access to soil nutrients. There is a lot of grass, ironwood, and junipers - signs of poor soil quality and heavy historic pasturing.

This Tract was also one of the first areas in Renfrew County where blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) carrying Borrelia burgdorferi - the bacterium that can cause Lyme disease - were detected through regional surveillance programs. Over the past several years, tick populations have become more established across parts of the Ottawa Valley, reflecting a broader pattern seen in eastern Ontario.

For forest users, a few changes can go a long way when heading out into tick country:
1. Wear light-coloured clothing to help find ticks more easily.
2. Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. Wear a hat if contact with overhead vegetation cannot be avoided. Tuck your pants into your socks if possible.
3. Use an insect repellent, or bug spray, containing DEET or Icaridin on clothes and exposed skin. Follow manufacturer’s directions.
4. Avoid bushy areas and long grass if possible.
5. Have lint rollers in vehicles for use on clothing after walking in high-risk areas.
6. Do a tick check immediately after being outdoors, and shower as soon as possible to wash off ticks that may not yet be attached.
7. Put clothes in the dryer for one hour on high heat to kill any ticks. They can survive the washing machine!

The goal is not to avoid the forest, but to enjoy it confidently and safely in every season.

For up-to-date guidance, local risk information, and tick removal instructions, visit the Renfrew County and District Health Unit's website below.

https://www.rcdhu.com/healthy-living/diseases/

County of Renfrew

Infections - Renfrew County and District Health Unit Avian Influenza Avian Influenza, commonly known as “bird flu” is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A influenza viruses. Sometimes it doesn’t make the bird sick. However, the influenza A virus is highly contagious, and wild birds can spread the virus through contaminated saliva, nas...