Archaeological information indicates that Algonquin people lived in the Ottawa Valley for at least 8,000 years prior to European arrival1. In the early days, the Algonquin people lived a semi-nomadic existence, moving about within their territory, following a seasonal round of resource harvesting activities: hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering. Some slash and burn agriculture was practiced along the lower Ottawa and Samuel de Champlain noted cornfields at Muskrat Lake and peas, beans, squash and corn on Allumette Island. The people lived lightly on the land, using resources sustainably and leaving little footprint behind. European immigration, logging and settlement activities had more far-reaching effects.

Logging in the Ottawa Valley started in the early 1800s, and had reached the Upper Valley and much of what is now Renfrew County by the 1830s. Early logging extracted only the very best white pines that were notably utilized as masts and decking for the Royal Navy. Timbers were square-hewn in the woods resulting in considerable waste, and increased risk and frequency of forest fires. It was estimated that only one white pine in ten was high enough quality to be used for this trade. Fires during this era would have created ideal conditions for the regeneration of pine from seed trees left unharvested due to “insufficient” quality for the desired products of the day.

By the 1850s, rapid population growth in the northern United States created a huge demand for pine lumber, which gave birth to an extensive sawmilling industry in the Ottawa Valley. Reaching its peak by the turn of the century, the sawmilling industry was less demanding of quality than was the square timber trade, resulting in the harvest of many more trees. Settlers followed the loggers. When the productive timber was exhausted in an area, the loggers moved on, believing that the timber would last forever. As settlers used fire as a land clearing method and to remove logging debris, uncontrolled forest fires frequently raged throughout the entire Ottawa Valley. Harvested or cleared area burned during this area yielded less pine regeneration and more early-successional species, due to the lack of seed trees left by the logging practices of the day.

Organized efforts to control forest fires occurred only after the First World War (1914-1918). However, these efforts were hindered by the lack of an early fire detection system, as well as generally poor access and response times. Today, with advances in technology, fire suppression methods have advanced to the point that the County of Renfrew experiences virtually no large forest fires. The result of this intense fire suppression is a skewed age-class structure with mature and old forest types over-represented and an unnaturally low proportion of young forest area on the larger landscape. However, we may see a shift in this trend due to increased frequency and intensity of large-scale wind disturbances in the 21st century.

Red and white pines were not the only species historically harvested in Renfrew County. Particular tree species have been singled out to meet the demands of different eras. The early settlers used cedar extensively for buildings and fences. Hemlock was harvested for its bark, which was used in the tanning industry and later, to provide timber for the construction of the Toronto Subway System. Yellow birch was utilized during the Second World War (1939-1945) to provide veneer used in the construction of the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber. Other “heavy” hardwoods (beech, maple, oak, etc.) did not receive much attention until the 1950s, when they started to be harvested for the sawmill industry. For years, there was a good demand for rail ties, which utilized some lower-grade material from many species. By the mid-1980s, poplar and low-grade hardwoods were being utilized for pulpwood. Since then, the sawmill and forest products industry has continued to evolve, creating markets for trees and wood residuals that promote minimal waste.

Science, research and learned experience has progressed the forestry sector into what it is today – a complex balancing of values with long-term planning to ensure future generations will have access to the same benefits we have from the forest today.