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The Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network (FABN) has submitted formal feedback on Alto’s proposed high-speed rail project between Toronto and Ottawa, raising concerns about potential environmental and ecological impacts within eastern Ontario’s Frontenac Arch region.
The organization is encouraging residents, landowners, and community members to participate in the federal consultation process before it closes on April 24, 2026.
FABN says its submission outlines key ecological and cultural values that could be affected by the project, including species at risk, wetlands, forests, and long-established conservation lands. While the organization supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable transportation, it warns that infrastructure development must not come at the expense of biodiversity or habitat connectivity.
The Frontenac Arch, part of the broader Algonquin to Adirondacks corridor, is recognized as an important wildlife movement pathway in eastern North America. The region supports a wide range of species and includes multiple nationally recognized biodiversity areas, though only a portion of its lands are formally protected.
Local research institutions and conservation partners have also emphasized the importance of maintaining ecological connectivity, noting the area’s role in climate resilience, wildlife movement, and long-term ecosystem health.
FABN says it will continue working with regional partners, Indigenous communities, municipalities, and conservation groups as the consultation process continues.
(By: Tim Baltz)
