In March 2002, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Northern Development and Mines committed to ending further mineral exploration and development in all 378 new Protected Areas created through Lands for Life. According to the Environmental Commissioner’s 2000/2001 Annual Report, there were 600 mining claims staked within 190 new protected areas. These claims were exempt from the new mining agreement because they were staked before the areas were officially given the 'Protected Area' status. The MNR assures conservationists that if part of a new park is to be developed for a mine, it would be deregulated as part of the park, and appropriate replacement lands would be placed into regulation. However, undeveloped land of equal ecological importance is becoming increasingly rare. Sherman Mine, Temagami -- Hap Wilson Environmental Impacts: The environmental impacts of mining is dependent upon what is being mined and the scale of the project. > Mining destroys critical habitat areas and wildlife corridors, disrupting migration patterns. > Drilling degrades water and air quality and accelerates erosion. > Noise pollution disrupts non-consumptive park uses and scares away wildlife. With the vast majority of the province to stake their claims within, the mining industry must stay out of our parks! The ratio of exploration programs to successful mines is 1000:1 Hap Wilson According to an OraclePoll Research Survey commissioned by Earthroots in October 1999, 76% of Ontarians oppose mining in protected areas. Quarries like the one in Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve threaten the integrity of Ontario's Protected Areas.	[an error occurred while processing this directive]