Alan Gordon Acadian Forest

This project records the flora and fauna in a 145 acre triangle of land bounded by Highway 417, Anderson Road, and Leitrim Road. This forest is a National Capital Commission (NCC) Greenbelt woodland that is one of the best preserved climax forests in eastern Ontario. Distinguished by its large, mature Red Spruce (Picea rubens), Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and White Pine (Pinus strobus), this small forest shows many old growth characteristics: pit and mound topography, healthy regeneration, canopy openings, standing snags, and downed trees returning their nutrients to the rich soil. We named this forested triangle after the distinguished scientist and forester, Dr. Alan Gordon of Sault Ste. Marie, who recorded the first global record of Red Spruce in Ontario in 1950. He also conducted research on Red Spruce in this southeastern area of Ottawa’s Greenbelt. less ↑