The Legault government announced Monday planned investments of more than $900 million which will be devoted to the protection of nature and biodiversity in Quebec over the coming years.
After coming under criticism for its environmental management of the Northvolt project and while the confrontation with Ottawa continues on the file of the protection of the woodland caribou, the Minister of the Environment of Quebec, Benoit Charette, on Monday invited Quebecers ” to act, now, in order to preserve our beautiful nature, so essential to life.”
According to information published by the government, a total envelope of 922 million dollars is planned for the implementation of an “action plan” 2024-2028, including 466 million to increase “the surface area of protected areas in the south of Quebec”, but also restore natural environments and try to better protect “threatened or vulnerable species”.
Another envelope of $360 million will be used in particular to improve “access to natural environments” and a sum of $95 million is planned to involve various partners in the protection of “Quebec’s rich natural heritage”.
“With this record budget of nearly $1 billion announced today by our government, I am certain that we will be able to realize the ambitious vision that is at the heart of the 2030 Nature Plan. That of a Quebec where we protect, restore and sustainably use natural heritage, in order to preserve biodiversity and its ecological functions, while improving the quality of life of the population by offering them better access to nature,” the Minister of Nature argued on Monday. the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Benoit Charette, by press release.
The Legault government has made a commitment to protect 30% of Quebec’s natural environments by 2030.
According to official data, approximately 17% of Quebec’s natural terrestrial territory is currently protected, or approximately 257,000 km2. Regarding marine environments, we are talking about 10%, with a little more than 16,000 km2.
This means that Quebec will have to add more than 200,000 km2 of terrestrial territories protected by the end of the decade, but also at least 30,000 km2 of protected marine territories.
More details will follow.