The government’s conservation target for protected areas is 30 per cent by 2030, and the Outaouais currently stand at less than seven per cent of its protected territory.

In light of the fact that tourism and economic development are at the core of the MRC Pontiacs development plan and that the wilderness and the natural landscapes of the Noire and Coulonge Rivers area assets to be preserved in this region, the MRC Pontiac passed a resolution to . . .

support the Noire and Coulonge Rivers Protected Area Project and actively participate in the regional consultation process.

The project run by Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO) and the Ottawa Valley chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-OV), began in the summer of 2019 to create 115,000 hectares of protected area in the watersheds of the Noire and Coulonge Rivers. By initiating the project the organization’s aim is to contribute to the economic diversification of the region and the development of recreational tourism.

In the summer of 2020, the two organizations went into the field and collected ecological data and information on old-growth forests and at risk beach habitats in the area to better inform their protection efforts.

In addition, they spoke to residents who use the area for recreational purposes, as well as mayors in Mansfield et Pontefract, Otter Lake, Fort Coulonge and Waltham, which are located where the protected area would be, explained Geneviève Le Blanc, conservation director of CPAWS-OV.

On March 9, CREDDO and CPAWS-OV made a presentation to the rest of the mayors on the protected areas project during a plenary committee. “The point of going to the mayors and to recreotourism actors, is we really want to be able to propose to the government and to make a recommendation for them to protect this area, according to the needs of the territory but mostly according to the needs of the people,” said Le Blanc.

Being able to convince all the mayors who have different interests that this project will be for the best for the Pontiac is something that was super important to them, said Le Blanc. Talking to the different groups of people helped the two organizations define the boundaries of the protected area as well as understand how they want those areas to be managed, explained Le Blanc.

Typically protected areas are managed from an office in Quebec City, which creates a disconnect of what happens on the ground, highlighted Le Blanc. “So what we’re looking at is going to be a co-management because, of course, the legal protection still needs to be awarded by the government of Quebec as it is public land.” This would be a new model of management as nothing like this currently exists, noted Le Blanc.

Initially what prompted this project was the federal government’s announcement of funding to help organizations and provinces across the country with protected area projects. They were awarded $300,000 to help push the Outaouais towards the goal of both the province and federal government of protecting 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas by 2020.

“Our goal at this point is really to get public support and political support to be able to push the government to find an act that would protect this area for now and for future generations,” said Le Blanc.

Getting all the mayors on board and then consulting with each of the mayors located in the regions of the protected areas were the first two steps. The next big step for them is consulting with the Indigenous communities in the territory, pointed out Le Blanc.

“What we’d like to do is for them to have an input on how they would be this area protected or not, or more specifically, how they would see it managed in the future,” she said.

Talking to Warden Jane Toller, she expressed that the importance of protecting the land for the Pontiac is that it has health benefits, tourism and it controls where the economic development takes place.

“I’m very proud to be part of this protection, and I’m especially very proud that our mayors unanimously supported it,” said Toller.

To continue to support the efforts made, Toller noted that she will ensure that the project is well received in Quebec. She added, “internationally they’re trying to protect 30 per cent of areas, around rivers, and right now the Outaouais is only at seven, so we have a long way to go. This is our way of making sure that we raise the standard in the Pontiac.”

Register or subscribe to read this content

Thanks for stopping by! This article is available to readers who have created a free account or who subscribe to The Equity.

When you register for free with your email, you get access to a limited number of stories at no cost. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access to everything we publish—and directly support quality local journalism here in the Pontiac.

Register or Subscribe Today!