A craze for new protected areas in Gaspésie

The call for projects launched in June by Quebec to establish new protected areas in the province has generated keen interest in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

The Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec) is currently supporting many individuals and organizations that are working on proposals to protect portions of the territory. While it has some 200 initiatives on its radar in the province, the organization anticipates submitting at least 20 serious projects in the region.

For us, it is very exciting what is happening on the ground at the moment, especially to see the mobilization of elected officials, mayors, mayoresses and prefects of MRC.

In addition to the idea of ​​a 385 square kilometer biodiversity reserve on the public territory of the upper Bonaventure River, the expansion of the protected areas already confirmed in 2023 of the ZEC Anses and Cascapédia are desired.

The Chic-Choc Mountains Protection Committee intends to take the opportunity to officially request a larger protected area in the Matane Wildlife Reserve.

Although she did not have a specific objective in accepting this mandate from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), the SNAP Quebec does not hide its joy at seeing the number of requests for support multiply as the deadline approaches.

Hopes are high for the Gaspésie Regional Environmental Council. The organization, which collaborates with the SNAP Quebec and goes to meet those who wish to see a protected territory see the light of day, notes a strong enthusiasm on the ground.

I think we will be one of the regions with a strong response to this call for projects. In each of the MRC from Gaspésie, we hear proposals and meet partners interested in submitting themsays Mia Larochelle, project manager for Protected Areas and Biodiversity at the Gaspésie Regional Environmental Council.

What we hope for […]it is really a record participationadds Marie-Pierre Beauvais, who believes that the interest observed concretely demonstrates that the population is concerned about issues related to the environment and the protection of biodiversity.

There SNAP Québec will travel to Gaspésie from September 30 to October 11 to meet with interested people.

Bonaventure River: inventories carried out

The Gaspésie Sud Water Council, which is working in partnership with Mission Rivière on the project surrounding the Bonaventure River, is more optimistic than ever that it will succeed in winning its case.

The organization has increased its field trips this summer, particularly to wetlands and ancient forests in the study area, in order to inventory the fauna and flora that it believes should be protected. We targeted environments or forest stands that were conducive to the presence of rarer species.explains the general director of the Gaspésie Sud Water Council, Julie Leblanc.

Several specimens of uncommon plants were observed, including the Anticosti aster and the American milk vetch. Rare and vulnerable birds were also seen or heard in the area, including the harlequin duck, whose presence was confirmed.

This confirms our choice of territory.

Acoustic recorders have been installed to document the presence of certain species of bats. Amphibian listening has also been carried out in recent months.

For the general director of the Gaspésie Sud Water Council, the presence of certain species is far from trivial. We have wealth to protect. If we want future generations to be able to benefit from it, I think these are additional arguments, especially for the population and organizations that gravitate around the Bonaventure River.says Julie Leblanc.

We are ready, really. We are really [convaincus] that the Bonaventure protected area proposal will be well received by the Ministry of the Environment.

A public information session will be held once the project is submitted; details of the inventories carried out will be presented to the public at this time.

The Chic-Chocs Protection Committee is optimistic

The Chic-Choc Mountains Protection Committee has been working on its protected area project in the Matane reserve for 17 years. While the first part is administratively protected, the group wants to double this area between Mount Logan and Mont Blanc so that it extends beyond Lake Matane.

The spokesperson for the citizens’ group, Louis Fradette, confirms that the project has already been submitted to Quebec, but that it still needs to be finalized by the deadline. The 60-page brief lists many arguments in favor of making this project a reality.

Even though he points out that the process is far from over, the committee believes that it will receive good news from Quebec.

I’m 100% sure we’re going to get it. After all that work, why not believe in it 100%?

Mr. Fradette recalls that during its inventories in the territory in question, the Committee noted in particular the presence of nesting pairs of golden eagles and Bicknell’s thrushes, two endangered species which, according to him, it is important to protect.

I could name others.he says, adding that rare species such as the pearl mussel have also been observed on these public lands.

Organizations or individuals interested in submitting a project can do so no later than October 15. The selected territories are scheduled to be set aside in 2027.