Protecting nature is an effective solution to counter biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change. That is why the federal government is working with the provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other partners to protect habitats necessary to the well-being of communities and wildlife species.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, today announced that more than 560 hectares in Mauricie will now be protected by Nature-Action Québec (NAQ). The Government of Canda is investing more than $4.9 million in the project.
The protected lands are located northeast of Trois-Rivières in the Red Mill bog area (13.7 hectares) and in the Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes bog (549 hectares). These spaces are home to wetlands of high ecological value, such as bogs, marshes, and treed swamps. Their protection will contribute to flooding and erosion control, water and air quality, carbon storage, and pollination. These lands are located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands of Quebec, which have been identified as a priority place by the Government of Canada.
The acquisition of nearly 550 hectares in the Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes bog is NAQ's biggest to date. It is located near protected areas such as the Red Mill and Lac-à-la-Tortue bogs. Its geographic location makes it a major asset for ensuring the connectivity of significant biodiverse areas and strengthening conservation efforts made to date in the region.
These two acquisitions in the Red Mill and Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes bogs add to the land already protected by NAQ in the Mauricie region, bringing the total area to 880 hectares.
