Investment in the Greater Montréal greenbelt

Through the Canada Nature Fund, the Government of Canada has invested $564,150 for a Nature-Action Québec project that protects 100 hectares of Montréal's greenbelt on the outskirts of the city.

This investment has made it possible to purchase land, establish a new conservation area, and connect this new area to other conserved areas. Protected areas under this project include mature forests, wetlands and marsh lands. These environments are important ecosystems for many species, including species at risk such as the Western Chorus Frog.

The six lands in this project are located in four major natural environment units in the Greater Montréal greenbelt: Mont Rigaud, the Colonie des Grèves de Contrecoeur forest, Mont Saint Bruno and Mont Rougemont.

In addition to meeting habitat needs for species at risk, these lands consolidate large units of natural environments. For example, Mont Rigaud is the largest forest massif (about 4,300 hectares) in the region. There are nine exceptional forest ecosystems there. The Parc régional des Grèves recreational tourism site, which includes the Colonie des Grèves de Contrecoeur forest, covers 290 hectares of mature forest, wetlands and peat lands. In the Mont Saint Bruno sector, Parc national du Mont Saint-Bruno covers nearly 900 hectares of some of the richest forests in Quebec, plus more than 30 hectares protected around the park. The land targeted by this project is in addition to this area on the mountain's periphery. Lastly, Mont Rougemont is a nearly 3,000-hectare Montérégie region massif that is home to seven exceptional forest ecosystems and more than 1,000 species, including plant and animal species at risk.