After canceling the planned protected area project along the Péribonka River and criticizing those opposed to logging, the Legault government finally cancels the planned logging and promises to “protect this precious territory”, as was demanded by several stakeholders from the region and environmental groups.
In a communicated published Tuesday morning, the government confirmed its about-face, after having discarded last year the protected area project which was to make it possible to preserve the corridor of this river located northeast of Lac-Saint-Jean.
“The government confirms its intention to protect this precious territory which is considered by many to be a natural jewel and to give access to it to those who want to practice recreational and tourism activities”, we can read in the press release published by the Minister of ‘Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC), Benoit Charette, as well as the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP), Pierre Dufour.
The forest cuts that were planned are therefore canceled, even though Minister Dufour has repeated on several occasions that they were essential for the control of spruce budworm.
“In order for us all to benefit from the riches of our territory, it is necessary that the various players in the area work together in order to establish a clear consensus. Today’s announcement gives us the opportunity to take stock of the use of our forest in this magnificent region, both for forestry and for other resort and recreational tourism activities, ”Pierre said on Tuesday. Dufour, by press release.
During the study of the appropriations of his ministry, in May, however, he had criticized opponents of the cuts on this territory, which includes old forests, an ecosystem that is increasingly rare in Quebec. “We seem to have people watching this and saying, ‘not in my backyard. I want to have wood to build my house, but not in my yard ”. I apologize, but the territory is vast and we naturally have to harmonize and find the best situations that are win-winners for everyone. It is not just for three individuals who do not want an intervention in front of their homes, ”he then argued.
“We are told: we must not cut any more. But on the other side, they say you have to build with wood. They say the price of wood is too expensive. At some point, you need a balance, ”he added.
” Natural heritage “
The Péribonka River corridor protection project was initially submitted by the MELCC, with the support of several stakeholders in the region. As part of a consultation conducted last year, the Alma Lac-Saint-Jean Tourism organization explained to the MFFP that “the Péribonka River and its valley represent one of the greatest potential for the development of recreational tourism products” in the region, especially internationally.
“The entire regional tourism industry is counting on the immense natural potential of the Péribonka River to strengthen its positioning at the international level”, the organization also underlined, recalling that an “ambitious tourism development plan” had already received support from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Emploi-Québec and the MRC Lac-Saint-Jean-Est. The tourism industry generates annual spinoffs of nearly $ 300 million in the region, according to Promotion Saguenay.
“Although our government reached the target of 17% for the protection of the territory last December, we are very proud to be able to confirm that our work is continuing. The Péribonka River is a jewel of our natural heritage and we owe it to ourselves to protect it, ”Minister Benoit Charette also pointed out on Tuesday.
The change in position of the Legault government was welcomed Tuesday by environmental groups who have campaigned for several months for the protection of the territory of the river. “We are delighted to note that citizen mobilization convinced the government to cancel these unjustified logging in the visual corridor of the Péribonka River. This exceptional territory deserves to be protected for future generations, ”explained Nature Québec’s Executive Director, Alice-Anne Simard.
Caribou
The Legault government set aside several dozen territories that had been targeted to become protected areas. These territories are all located south of the authorized limit for the exploitation of Quebec forests. Some territories also overlap with areas where mining, oil or gas exploration permits are found.
Among the dozens of projects set aside, there are at least ten territories which would have made it possible to increase caribou protection measures, according to stakeholders well aware of the matter. These territories total at least 2000 km2, according to a non-exhaustive count.
Moreover, before deciding to authorize logging along the Péribonka River, the Legault government announced at the end of 2019 that he wanted to authorize cuts on a forest massif located on the course of the river. However, this massif had until then been protected in order to preserve the habitat of the woodland caribou, a species particularly vulnerable to the impacts of industrial logging.
At the time of abolishing the protection measures of this forest massif (and of two other massifs located in the region), the MFFP had affirmed that no caribou were in the area. Aerial surveys carried out during the winter of 2020, however, made it possible to locate caribou in the area where this massif is located, according to what emerges from a report. report produced by the MFFP. These deer are part of a population of about 225 animals and which is “in an extremely precarious state”, according to experts from the ministry.
Watch video
Reference-feedproxy.google.com