Consultations begin in Outaouais on future protected areas

Tashi Farmilo

Regional stakeholders in the Outaouais are set to begin a consultation process that could shape the future of conservation across the region’s public lands.

The Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO) has launched a year-and-a-half-long initiative to evaluate 47 proposed protected areas. The consultations are part of Quebec’s Plan nature 2030, which aims to protect 30 per cent of both terrestrial and marine territory by the end of the decade. Currently, Quebec protects approximately 16.7 per cent of its land and freshwater territory, while the Outaouais region remains at just over 10 per cent.

“This is a major moment for the Outaouais,” said Benoit Delage, executive director of CREDDO. “These consultations are about building consensus and identifying natural areas that matter, not only for biodiversity, but for local communities as well.”

With more than 78 per cent of its 30,000-square-kilometre territory covered in forest, the Outaouais plays a key role in maintaining ecological corridors and supporting species at risk. The region’s rivers, wetlands, and old-growth forests also provide vital ecosystem services and cultural value, but are increasingly under pressure from development, land-use change, and habitat fragmentation.

Among the 47 proposals under review, several areas have been publicly identified by regional conservation groups such as CPAWS‑Outaouais for their ecological value and strategic importance. These include the Noire and Coulonge Rivers, Lac Brûlé, Lac Dumont, ZEC Saint‑Patrice, the Poussière River, the eastern Coulonge River, Presqu’île du Lac à l’Indienne, and the rare alvar habitats in Bristol and Clarendon.

Unlike open public hearings, the consultations will take place in closed sessions. Invitations have been sent to municipalities, regional county municipalities (MRCs), Indigenous communities, and environmental groups. According to CREDDO, this format is designed to allow for constructive, respectful dialogue among those directly involved in land-use decisions.

The process began with an online information session on September 10. A series of working groups, referred to as tables de concertation, will begin meeting on October 1 and continue through spring 2026. Final recommendations will be submitted to Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment in December 2026.

Environment Minister Benoit Charette has underscored the importance of regional knowledge in driving conservation efforts. “Several protected area projects are currently on the table. We need the knowledge of local and regional actors, municipalities, MRCs, and Indigenous communities to identify the initiatives that will be most beneficial for nature and local populations,” he said. “We’re asking people who live on this land to help us decide how to protect it, because when conservation is rooted in regional expertise, it becomes a tool for both environmental and community resilience.”