Mount Rigaud protection moving forward at full throttle

La version francophone est disponible ici.

 

Belœil, January 18, 2022 – Nature-Action Québec (NAQ) and its partners are pleased to announce the acquisition and protection of an eighteen-hectare (ha) natural environment located on Mount Rigaud within the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Green Corridor. This project adds to the 191 hectares already protected by NAQ on the Monteregian Hill through projects assisting private stewardship and consolidates the protected land in this ecologically important area.

 

A haven for many at-risk species

Acquiring the property further consolidates the protected habitats on Mount Rigaud. The tract is home to diverse wildlife and plant populations and at-risk species, such as the butternut, a plant species likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable in Quebec and endangered in Canada.

 

Moreover, wildlife species, such as the Eastern wood pewee; the Canada warbler, whose status is considered to be of concern in Canada; the ringneck snake and the smooth green snake, two species likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable, are present on Mount Rigaud. Mount Rigaud stands out for the ecological integrity and high conservation value of the natural environments it harbours.

 

Project partners

The acquisition and protection of this property are the result of the financial contributions of a number of partners, including the Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment and Climate Change Canada) and the Government of Quebec. The latter’s contribution was made possible through the ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques’s Projet de partenariat pour les milieux naturels (PPMN), a grant of more than $53 million awarded to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) that includes a financial partnership with NAQ.

 

Citations

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“Nature-Action Québec is delighted to have reached 200 hectares of protected natural areas on Mount Rigaud. It is a particularly rich environment that provides habitat to a number of at-risk plant and animal species, and their protection makes us very proud. The involvement of all the partners and the NAQ team’s extraordinary work made this remarkable achievement possible.”

Romy Bazo, Head of the Acquisition, Management and Enhancement of Natural Environments Department of Nature-Action Québec

 

 

 

 

 

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“This project will contribute to the protection of Canada’s biodiversity and recovery of species at risk. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s investment consolidates the efforts made by Nature-Action Quebec for nearly 20 years. Much remains to be done, but we are making significant progress towards achieving our objective of protecting a quarter of lands and oceans by 2025, and we are taking the necessary steps to achieve 30 percent by 2030. Together, we can build a future that is carbon neutral, more sustainable, healthy, and respectful of nature which will benefit everyone.”

The Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

 

 

 

 

 

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“The protection of 200 hectares on Mount Rigaud is wonderful news. These natural environments contain rich biodiversity and at-risk species that must be protected. These acquisitions will increase the amount of protected natural areas in southern Quebec, which will help us improve the representativeness of our network of protected areas. Thank you to Nature-Action Québec for the valuable work it does to protect Quebec’s territory!”

Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism, and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region 

 

 

 

 

 

About us

 

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canada’s Nature Fund supports biodiversity in Canada by creating protected areas and through initiatives that contribute to the recovery of species at risk. Funds are provided to non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, Provincial and Territorial governments and other stakeholders

 

Natural Environment Partnership Project (PPMN)

The PPMN is a four-year grant of more than $53 million that the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques awarded to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). By establishing financial partnerships with conservation organizations in the province, it provides support for initiatives protecting natural environments of interest. In this way, the PPMN aims to develop and consolidate Quebec’s network of protected areas located on private land.

 

The Ensemble pour la nature project (PEPN)

The Ensemble pour la nature project (PEPN) is a 15-million-dollar, three-year grant from 2017 to 2020 awarded to the NCC by the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques. It aimed to establish financial partnerships and foster scientific knowledge to ensure the conservation and protection of natural environments on private land in Quebec through March 31, 2020. It generated interest in protecting natural environments and encouraged the people of Quebec to take action to preserve the environment.

 

Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s leading private land conservation organization and a non-profit organization working to protect our most important natural environments and the species they support. Since 1962, the NCC and its partners have helped protect 14 million hectares from coast to coast, including nearly 48,000 in Quebec. For more information natureconservation.ca.

 

Nature-Action Québec

For thirty-five years, the non-profit Nature-Action Québec has had the mission to guide individuals and organizations in applying better environmental practices. The organization works with municipalities, businesses, community organizations and citizens to carry out concrete projects that contribute to improving Quebecers’ environment, health, well-being and quality of life.

 

 

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Informations :

Mélanie Giroux
Senior Communications Advisor
Environment and Climate Change Canada
melanie.giroux@canada.ca

 

Romy Bazo
Head of the Natural Environment Acquisition, Management and Enhancement Department
Nature-Action Québec
romy.bazo@nature-action.qc.ca
450 536-0422, ext. 401