Press Release

Montréal, August 9, 2011 – Pierre Arcand, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, and Geoffrey Kelley, Member for Jacques-Cartier and Minister responsible for Native Affairs, today announced an agreement with Investissement Québec to acquire and protect 31 hectares along Rivière à l’Orme in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Once purchased the land will be added to the Rivière à l’Orme ecoforestry corridor, one of the eco-territories established by the City of Montréal, which will manage it. The final terms and conditions are currently under negotiation.

“This is land of great ecological value. We are not just protecting the habitat of numerous plant and wildlife species, including some that are endangered, vulnerable, or likely to be so soon. This acquisition also allows us to protect wetlands so they can continue to perform their ecological role. And we are also building on conservation initiatives already under way near the Rivière à l’Orme watershed—one of the Island of Montréal’s last remaining rivers still in its natural state,” Minister Arcand commented.

The agreement between Investissement Québec and Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs carries on the work begun under the Partenaires pour la Nature program. A 2010 investment of over $2.6 million under this program allowed Ducks Unlimited Canada to acquire a total of approximately 60 hectares in the area upstream of the Anse-à-l’Orme “nature park.”

“This is excellent news for all the project partners, but also and especially for the people of Montréal’s West Island. Protecting the environment is important to local residents who have a deep appreciation for the biodiversity of Anse-à-l’Orme. Green spaces are important in an urban setting, and local residents will be the first to benefit,” said Minister Kelley.

In southern Québec, and especially in urban areas, biodiversity is under serious threat. Today’s agreement helps protect natural environments and spaces in the heart of the Montréal metropolitan area. The agreement also makes good on commitments made at the 2010 City Biodiversity Summit in Nagoya, Japan, which coincided with the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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Media Relations Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs Tel. 418 521-3991