We are currently a third of the way through a sprint that should ultimately, we hope, lead us to protect 30% of Quebec’s territory. In fact, since the beginning of June and until October, the Government of Quebec has been calling on the population to submit applications for territories to be protected via a call for projects process. First Nations are also getting involved in preserving natural environments and Indigenous culture, which are interconnected.
This race for the protection of the territory is a relay race that requires the participation and collaboration of many stakeholders. Once the proposals for protected areas have been submitted, the government and the First Nations will have to consult with all stakeholders concerned with conservation: forest users, industry, municipalities and citizen groups.
Crossing the finish line
At SNAP Québec, we have been working for over 20 years to ensure that these stakeholders talk to each other and reach common ground. It is with this experience that the government has entrusted us with an envelope of $3.3 million in 2021 to support over 20 regional partners leading protected area projects on public lands.
This initiative, called Plein aire, has already achieved concrete and significant results in southern Quebec. Areas such as Mount Kaaikop in the Laurentians, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc in Mauricie, and part of the ZEC des Anses in Gaspésie have seen their ancient forests, mountain peaks and salmon rivers protected. This is three times the area of Mont-Mégantic National Park that is now protected.
From south to north
To reach the 30% target by 2030, another 195,000 km will need to be protected.2 of territory. In addition to the smaller territories to the south, close to the population and rich in biodiversity, it will be necessary to protect the vast territories of the north, rich in carbon and important for species at risk such as caribou and the culture of the First Nations.
In 2021, we launched the Don’t Lose the South campaign to prevent 83 protected area projects in southern Quebec, covering 14,000 km2do not fall through the cracks. At the time of writing, 25 of the 83 territories had been protected and 5 others were in the process of being so.
As for the North, we continue to work with our indigenous, municipal and citizen partners to protect territories such as the Muteshekau Shipu (Magpie River) or the Pipmuakan reservoir, to name just a few.
The best we can hope for in a relay race is that everyone does their part. We bet that if public participation is massive during the call for projects for the protection of the territory, the government and the MRCs will keep up the pace and fulfill their part of the contract.
When we reach the finish line, every protected area will count, whether it is north or south, large or small. A representative, effective and well-managed network of protected areas will be our legacy for generations to come.