TORONTO - A government report that calls for the drastic reduction of logging activity in Algonquin Provincial Park is being applauded by environmental groups as the first significant move to expand protection of the area in 40 years.

The Ontario Parks Board report found that in order to preserve the park's old growth forests, lakes and streams, protection zones should be expanded from the current 22 per cent to 54 per cent of the total area.

"The fact that a government report says that it's time to reduce the area of logging in the park is great news,'' said Evan Ferrari, director of the Wildlands League.

"It would be the first expansion of protection area in Algonquin in 40 years,'' he added, noting that a recent survey suggested only 14 per cent of Ontario residents knew logging went on in the park.

Other recommendations in the report, released earlier this month to little fanfare, include shutting down logging roads, using portable bridges and switching to quieter logging equipment.

At any given time, less than two per cent of Algonquin's 765,000 hectares are logged, with work completed on a rotation basis, said Ferrari, who noted that companies need a huge road network for hauling lumber and equipment.

The park, located some 260 kilometres northeast of Toronto, contains more than 8,000 kilometres of roads, many of which are up to 20 metres wide, according to government statistics. The area is managed by the Algonquin Forestry Authority, which is a provincial Crown corporation.

Anastasia Lintner of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund said that the report was a good step towards a total ban on logging in the park.

"The feeling in the public, we suspect, is that logging should be taken out of the park,'' said Lintner. "But we understand completely that economic activity that depends on the park will need some time to adjust to those changing plans.''

Natural Resource Minister David Ramsay has reviewed the report but he hasn't made any decisions about its recommendations, said Jolanta Kowalski, a ministry spokeswoman.

Instead, the government is waiting for feedback from Ontarians, she said.

"We want to hear what the people have to say, and then those comments will be given to the minister and the minister will make a decision.''

The park was created in 1893 and boasts more than 214 brook trout lakes and 1,374 campsites. It also has 1,481 kilometres of canoe routes.

Out of 621 protected areas in the province, Algonquin is the only provincial park where logging still continues, said Ferrari.

"Unless the government really hears people caring about this, nothing is going to happen,'' said Ferrari.

Information about the report can be found online at http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/. Public comments will be taken until the middle of June.