Published August 28, 2024

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – In a stride toward environmental conservation, a collaborative initiative has been launched to establish a 115,000-hectare protected area within the watersheds of the Noire and Coulonge Rivers. This project aims to preserve the region’s ecological wealth while integrating sustainable recreational tourism and fostering reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

The announcement was highlighted by a symbolic canoe descent on the Noire River, August 12, led by Sophie Chatel, Pontiac MP, who was joined by Benoit Delage of the Outaouais Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CREDDO), along with John McDonnell and Geneviève Leblanc from Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s (CPAWS) Ottawa Valley chapter.

The initiative is supported by a $650,000 federal contribution, which supplements the $300,000 previously allocated in 2019-2020, bringing the total funding to $950,000 over four years. The funds are dedicated to advancing ongoing conservation efforts and addressing specific regional needs related to eco-recreational tourism development. The funding supports activities like assessing the project’s impact on the forestry industry, identifying compensatory measures, implementing a stakeholder engagement strategy, and evaluating the ecosystem services provided by the Noire and Coulonge river watersheds.

McDonnell highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting additional funding from Environment Canada will be crucial in furthering conservation efforts and supporting
eco-recreational initiatives in the region.

Delage underscored the importance of addressing key challenges identified during consultations over the past two years, including the maintenance of acquired rights for current land users, ensuring continued access to the territory, and creating local economic benefits through developing the recreational tourism sector. To meet these challenges, further studies will be conducted, including assessments of recreational tourism development and evaluations of the maintenance costs for priority roads.

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