Protected areas: more than 200,000 km2 within the reach of Quebec

If all the protected area projects sent as part of a recent appeal from the Ministry of the Environment were realized tomorrow morning, southern Quebec could largely contribute to achieving the target of 30% of the territory under protected area protection. by 2030, with a potential of more than 200,000 km². The MRCs still need to give their support, while a quarter of the initiatives have already been rejected.

According to data obtained by - thanks to the Access to Information Act, the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) had compiled a total of 576 proposals by the deadline set on October 15.

Of these, 535 have so far been deemed admissible and are currently at the first stage of the analysis process. According to our information, Quebec has received 26 marine protected area projects and 509 proposals in continental environments (terrestrial, freshwater).

Combined, they total a potential area of ​​217,580 km².

A target within reach

The government of Quebec is committed to protecting 30% of its territory by 2030, an international target adopted at COP15 for biodiversity held in Montreal in 2022. As of spring 2024, approximately 17% of the territory was under protected areas. protected.

Currently, Nord-du-Québec dominates and influences the assessment upwards, while the southern zone is under-represented.

According to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (SNAP Quebec), partner of the government for the recent call for projects, the proposals submitted could allow the province to change the situation and significantly increase its balance sheet in the so-called southern zone, or southern Quebec.

According to the SNAP Quebec, the province must add 161,000 km² in the call for projects zone to achieve the target of 30% protected areas, which represents 19.26% of this territory.

According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, the projects recently presented in the terrestrial environment represent an area of ​​195,000 km²or more than 30,000 km² beyond the 30% target.

A quarter of projects rejected

From the outset, the SNAP Quebec is pleased with the number of proposals submitted to the government. Citizen mobilization is really a nice surpriseenthuses Francis-D Desnoyers, responsible for protected area projects in southern Quebec for the organization.

However, several of these projects have already been rejected, due to lack of resolutions of support from MRC concerned. Project leaders must in fact obtain, by January 10, the approval of local elected officials so that their files can move to the analysis stage at the ministry's regional consultation tables.

According to a compilation of the SNAP Quebec, approximately 75% of projects were supported or partially supported, allowing them to move to the next stage of the analysis process. However, a quarter was dismissed out of hand before even being debated.

We deplore all the projects that will be rejected at the current stage. Our vision is that all projects should in fact be supportedsays Mr. Desnoyers, who fears that regions will be like this underrepresented.

The problem is that a few MRCs blocked everythingdeplores Mr. Desnoyers. This veto agreed to by municipal officials was also feared by certain environmental organizations.

To not have this opportunity to discuss, to change the boundaries, to determine a different surface area, to not have the opportunity to talk about it, it's a big loss.

Their fears will ultimately have been proven. Mr. Desnoyers also agrees that the process put in place by the government breaks the efforts of people who have [mené des projets] voluntarily and who wanted to appropriate the territory.

In certain regions, such as Haute-Gaspésie or Mauricie, a vast majority, if not all, of the projects submitted did not obtain these resolutions of support. The mechanism has been denounced by many, including the SNAP Quebec, despite its role as a partner of the government.

Francis-D Desnoyers recalls that the resolutions of support are not blank checks. Support only allows a project to be analyzed by the regional consultation tables, where they can be debated in depth.

The biologist, however, remains optimistic. There SNAP Quebec and the ministry are continuing their efforts to maximize the support of MRC by the January 10 deadline.

Room for maneuver

The organization's general director, Alain Branchaud, also remains optimistic. In his opinion, the number of projects and the potential areas allow us to affirm that the government initiative is a success.

With room for maneuver more than 30,000 km²Quebec has, according to him, the opportunity to make choices that will maximize the support of the population and local authorities.

We can theoretically reach more than 33% in the southern Quebec areacontinues Mr. Branchaud. The latter recalls that Quebec is planning a second call for projects in 2027, still with the aim of reaching 30% by 2030.