The project aims to conserve, restore and enhance the beaver pond sector
GASPE, QC, August 25, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – Habitats connected by natural corridors are home to a greater variety of plant and animal species. Ecological connectivity therefore contributes to the protection of biodiversity, making us more resilient to climate change.
To the left of Route 132, the old 5 km section that will be restored as part of the conservation, restoration and enhancement project for the beaver pond sector of Forillon National Park. (CNW Group/Parks Canada)
Today, the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-MadeleineParcs, on behalf of Steven GuilbeaultMinister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced an investment of $4.3 million for a conservation, restoration and enhancement project in the beaver pond sector of Forillon National Park. Funded by Parks Canada’s Conservation and Restoration Program, this project aims to restore the ecological connectivity of the forest and waterways near an old section of Highway 132 by 2026.
The work includes the removal of asphalt and guardrails and the reforestation of 5.5 kilometers of the old road. Watercourses and soils will also be redeveloped and restored, facilitating, among other things, the movement of animals and the dispersal of flora. Approximately 15,000 native trees will also be planted in Forillon National Park as part of this project aimed at restoring ecological connectivity, cleaning up the air, fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity.
Three portions of trails of various types will be developed in harmony with nature and will create a most interesting route that will lead to several points of interest: the Visitor and Discovery Centre, the beaver ponds and Cap des Rosiers streams and the La Chute trail. Through the presentation of the beaver pond area, local communities and visitors will be made aware of the fundamental role that beavers play in important ecological processes that support rich biodiversity.
In addition to achieving several conservation and ecological restoration objectives, this project will offer Canadians and visitors the opportunity to discover a unique wetland while enjoying the benefits of outdoor physical activity and being surrounded by nature.
Quotation
“Forillon National Park is a jewel of the Gaspé Peninsula. By investing $4.3 million in the park’s biodiversity, the government of Canada demonstrates that the conservation of natural environments is at the forefront of efforts to fight against climate change and stimulate the tourism industry, an essential sector of the Gaspésie economy. »
The Honorable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue and MNA for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Fast facts
- At the end of the project, Parks Canada will have restored 133,000 m² of surface area and will have connected six watercourses whose banks will have been rehabilitated, facilitating the passage of fish and amphibians.
- Thanks to the new installations, visitors will be made aware of the importance of nature in general and, more specifically, of the importance of the beaver, this engineer of the ecosystem which creates wetland habitats for other species, improves the quality water, influences forest succession and promotes biodiversity .
- Forillon National Park is recognized for its efforts in the fight against climate change. He received the 2020 Canadian Parks Council Award of Excellence to an agency for his Cap des Rosiers beach restoration project.
- This project is in line with previous projects in the northern part of the park, such as the major repair of Route 132, the restoration of the Cap des Rosiers beach and the transformation of the Interpretation Center into a Reception and Discovery Centre.
- Parks Canada is one of the few national park systems in the world to have a system-wide ecological integrity monitoring and reporting program. This program is based on approximately 600 scientific measures that support the priorities of each park and guide restoration actions.
- The government of Canada invests $20 million annually through Parks Canada’s Conservation and Restoration Program to support high priority projects that have on-the-ground impact on maintaining and restoring ecological integrity.
Related links
SOURCE Parks Canada
For further information: Kaitlin Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-230-1557, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada Agency, 1-855-862-1812, [email protected]; Guillaume Denis, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Gaspésie Management Unit, 418 355-4298, [email protected]
