Ottawa invests $1.48M to protect at-risk species along St. Lawrence River

The federal government is pledging $1.48 million over four years to restore habitats along the St. Lawrence River where at-risk species live, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced Tuesday.

The project will take place in the St. Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec, mainly in the Quebec City, Chaudière-Appalaches, and Mauricie regions.

The funds invested aim to protect suitable core habitats for species at risk, in particular through conservation planning activities, the development of partnerships, or land acquisition, and to connect them by ecological corridors.

“On the ground, these experts will help to restore, to protect, and sometimes to acquire land to ensure that they’re there for generations and generations,” said Minister Guilbeault.

‘Protecting nature’

The area targeted by this project is home to a total of 21 species at risk.

The funds invested will also be used to restore habitats that have been degraded by exotic invasive species, coastal erosion, and rubbish, and to raise awareness among various groups of the benefits of reconciling land uses.

“Those actions are invasive species control, monitoring endangered species, also on our property but also elsewhere in critical habitats,” said Carine Deland, the director of conservation at the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “We’re also doing some outreach and modification of practices to make sure those species are protected.”

“The fight against biodiversity loss and climate change starts with protecting nature,” reads a news release issued by the federal government. “Together, we are protecting critical habitats for species at risk and we aim to protect 30 per cent of our land and oceans by 2030.”

The money is in addition to $250,000 that was granted between 2020 and 2023 for the first phase of the project to restore habitats, acquire land and “connect them by ecological corridors.”