Government of Canada and Nature Conservancy of Canada conserve valuable
habitat in the Southern Laurentians

PIEDMONT, QC, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - On behalf of Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis—Bellechasse, today announced the Nature Conservancy of Canada's successful acquisition of ERS Youth Development Corporation property in the Laurentian region of Québec. This property consists of 459 hectares (1,134 acres) of land located in the Tremblant-Prévost Corridor Natural Area. This project was secured in part with funding from Environment Canada's Natural Areas Conservation Program and has an overall budget of $5,247,250.

"As part of the International Year of Biodiversity, this acquisition marks another achievement under our government's Natural Areas Conservation Program. With this investment, we are taking real action to protect and conserve our ecosystems and sensitive species for present and future generations," said MP Blaney. "Your actions, large and small, will help to protect the abundance and variety of life that is part of our natural heritage."

This property is part of an ecologically significant area that is home to important plant and animal species at risk such as the Peregrine Falcon. Mixed and deciduous forests cover most of the property, and White and Red Pine trees can be found at the top and the bottom of the ridge. This diverse forest cover combines with the presence of the facing cliffs to explain the abundance and diversity of bird populations in the area.

Moreover, a small lake (Lake Paradis) in the south west portion of the property is home to a well-drained maple forest with mature Butternut and Red Oak trees accompanied by meridional plants such as the Bloodroot and the Northern Maidenhair fern. The complex topography of this Natural Area has encouraged the development of various types of soils, hydrologic regimes and microclimates, and thus a mosaic of forest and wetland habitats of great diversity.

"These Gifts to Canadians are tangible examples of what we are able to achieve by working together. By designing and managing networks of protected areas we fulfill our national and global responsibility to protect Canada's natural treasures for the future," said John Lounds President & CEO of Nature Conservancy of Canada. "What better way to celebrate our nation than by protecting the spectacular lands and wildlife that our country is known for around the world."

The Government of Canada's $225-million Natural Areas Conservation Program is an important on-the-ground initiative that takes real action to preserve Canada's environment and conserve its precious natural heritage for present and future generations. It is through the ongoing contribution from all donors that we can ensure the protection of natural areas in Canada. As of July 2010, under the Natural Areas Conservation Program over 138,800 hectares (342,982 acres) have been secured, protecting habitat for over 79 species at risk.

For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit the Web site of Environment Canada, at http://www.ec.gc.ca/.

(Également offert en français)

                                                             

For further information:

please see the attached backgrounder or contact:

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