Montreal, December 5, 2020 – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec chapter (SNAP Québec) congratulates the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, the Makivik Corporation, the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), the Cree Nation Government for their work in terms of conservation, which has led to the protection of nearly 30,000 km2 in Nunavik.
Our network of protected areas has made a 2 % leap to reach 12,7 % of surface area protected. SNAP Québec acknowledges the government of Quebec’s determination and remains confident that the 17 % target will be reached by the end of the year. SNAP Québec calls on the government to take action on the numerous candidate protected areas in southern Quebec by this deadline.
Indigenous Leadership at the Core of Conservation Success
Nearly 10 years ago, Inuit communities initiated a vast process that led to the identification of 80,000 km2 of areas of conservation interest in Nunavik. Members of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, the Cree Nation of Whapmagoostui and the Innu Nation of Matimekosh-Lac John identified several priority areas to be protected on their ancestral lands.
Subsequently, Indigenous Nations, the KRG and the Government of Quebec worked through the Nunavik Protected Areas Working Group to bring several of these proposals to completion. The 10 territories now protected from industrial activities represent 29,785 km2 and allow the KRG to achieve its goal of reaching the target of 20 % of protection in Nunavik.
“We must now applaud not only the tangible result, in terms of land protection, but also the path taken to achieve it,” noted Alain Branchaud, executive director of SNAP Québec. “The new protected areas correspond to a total surface area larger than the state of Vermont and represent a significant contribution in terms of biocultural conservation in this final push for the achievement of international conservation targets.”
Exceptional Territories Protected
SNAP Québec is particularly delighted by the announced extensions to Tursujuq National Park, the largest protected area in eastern North America. The organization also wishes to highlight the protection of Eaton Canyon, a territory identified as a priority by the Naskapi Nation. Located near Schefferville, this area of high potential for recreational tourism could contribute to the region’s economic diversification.
Finally, SNAP Québec very much welcomes the announced extensions to the George River Protected Area that will lead to better protection of the migratory caribou calving grounds, as well as the protection of Mushuau-nipi, a site that the Innu group Uapashkuss hopes to see recognized as a natural sacred site.
A Collaboration to Pursue Beyond 2020
To ensure their effectiveness and to maximize benefits for local communities, developing these new protected areas must be a priority in the coming years.
SNAP Québec invites the Indigenous Nations and the Quebec government to consider Plan Nous as a valuable tool to promote these protected territories. This twinning program between northern and southern Quebec aims to create human corridors that will link northern communities with communities in the south, and in the process, train ambassadors for biocultural diversity.
“Ultimately, we’re inviting partners to pursue their collaboration with regards to conservation beyond 2020,” concluded Alice de Swarte, Conservation and Policy Analysis Coordinator at SNAP Québec. “Territories such as Cambrien and Nachicapau Lakes, as well as the Iluiliq and Baie-aux-Feuilles National Park projects have already been identified as excellent candidates to help us consolidate the network of protected areas in Nunavik.”
SNAP Québec is pleased by the government’s intent to protect the Chic-Chocs mountains area in the Matane Wildlife Reserve, and will wait for more details to be available regarding this protected area before further responding.
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CONTACT
Charlène Daubenfeld
Communications Manager, SNAP Québec
Cell : 514 378-3880
[email protected]