Îles de la Paix National Wildlife Area

Îles de la Paix National Wildlife Area (NWA) is a chain of islands, stretching over several kilometers (km) in the middle of Lake Saint-Louis, a natural widening of the St. Lawrence River in Québec. This NWA protects weed beds that are important waterfowl breeding habitats and staging areas for migratory birds.

Description

Îles de la Paix National Wildlife Area (NWA) is an area of 129 hectares and is located in a highly urbanized and industrialized region southwest of Montreal. The islands lie along one of North America's major waterways, the St. Lawrence Seaway. Environment and Climate Change Canada established the NWA in 1977.

The NWA is composed of low-lying islands with sparse stands of silver maple, surrounded by beaches and wetlands. Despite its limited size, the area hosts a diversity of habitats. The NWA regularly attracts nearly 130 species of birds. The islands provide nesting sites for several dozen pairs of ducks, and provide food and shelter for nearly 5,000 ducks during spring and nearly 30,000 during fall migration. The area is also home to over 150 animal species, and 50 plant species, including a number of species at risk.

Birds mostly congregate on the Îles de la Paix during the nesting period. American black duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and northern pintail nest on the islands’ edges. Occasionally, during high water, these birds nest in the crotches of trees. The dead trees on the islands provide plenty of roosting space for tree swallows. Black terns have also been observed.

Mammals also visit the islands, such as:

• muskrats
• beavers
• American minks
• coyotes
• red foxes

The wildlife area is exposed to substantial threats and management challenges. This is due to its location near a large city, as well as to current and past human activities. Primary issues areerosion due to the regulation of water levels in the Seaway, the impact of human activity on wildlife species and habitats, and the presence of invasive alien species.

Additional threats to the conservation of wildlife are:

• hunting and poaching
• gaps in scientific knowledge
• contaminated sediment
• accidental marine spills

Find more information on Îles de la Paix NWA in the summary table below.

Management

Under the Canada Wildlife Act, NWAs are protected and managed in accordance with the Wildlife Area Regulations. The primary purpose of NWAs is to protect and conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. For this purpose and according to the legislation, all activities in a NWA that could interfere with the conservation of wildlife can be prohibited. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all other activities are prohibited in all NWAs. However, some activities may be authorized through Schedule I.1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations or the issuance of permits as long as they are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWA Management and Activities section. You can also consult the Îles de la Paix NWA management plan.

Access to the Îles de la Paix NWA is generally prohibited, except under the authority of a permit issued by the Minister. This type of management is due to the fragility of the wildlife species and island environments. Hunting or harvesting of natural resources is forbidden within the boundaries of the NWA.

In addition, permits may be issued for research activities, in keeping with the priorities set out in the management plan for the wildlife area. Permits may also be issued for other conservation activities such as surveys, or the enhancement or restoration of habitat. Priority will be given to collaborative activities with local agencies and organizations to promote the protection and the conservation of wildlife species and their habitat.

More information on access and permitting for Îles de la Paix NWA can be obtained by contacting the Environment and Climate Change Canada regional office.

Map of the area

This map is for illustrative purposes only. It should not be used to define legal boundaries.

Summary

Protected Area designation

NWA

Province/Territory

Quebec

Latitude/Longitude

45°20' North 73°54' West

Size

129 ha

Reason for Creation of protected area

Background:

This NWA was created in order to conserve species and critical habitats. It is a popular staging area for migratory birds.
This NWA’s wetlands serve as important breeding grounds for waterfowl such as:

• mallard
• American black duck
• northern pintail
• Canada goose
• common goldeneye
• greater scaups

Current:

Criterion 2a - The area supports an appreciable fauna assemblage of rare, vulnerable threatened or endangered species or subspecies of plants or animals, or an appreciable number of individuals of any one or more of these species or subspecies (e.g. COSEWIC list). The area supports an appreciable quantity of individual green dragon plants, a species designated as threatened by the Government of Quebec.
Criterion 2b - The area has special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of a region because of the quality and uniqueness of its flora and fauna.

Date created (Gazetted)

1977

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Management Category

Ia - Strict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for scientific purposes or to protect wildlife resources

Additional designations

• The NWA overlaps with Îles de la Paix MBS. The MBS includes the NWA and a 500m wide strip surrounding it.
• It is part of the Lac Saint-Louis and Îles de la Paix Important Bird Area (IBA)

Keystone or flagship species

• mallard
• tree swallows
• black tern
• green dragon

Listed Species under the Species at Risk Act SARA

Eight species, including the snapping turtle and the barn swallow under the Species at Risk Act.
Eight other species are classified as threatened or vulnerable, or likely to be designated as such under the Quebec Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species, with five additional species unconfirmed.

Main habitat type

Low-lying islands consisting of sparse stands of silver maple and extensive marshes and seagrass beds.

Faunistic and floristic importance

Wetland and island environments serve as important breeding grounds and popular staging areas for migratory birds.

Invasive species

The reed canarygrass, the purple loosestrife, and zebra and quagga mussels living in the surrounding waters.

Other Species

Mammals:

• muskrat
• beaver
• American mink
• coyote
• red fox

Main threats and challenges

Erosion related to the regulation of water levels in the Seaway,  the impact of human activity on wildlife species and habitats and the presence of invasive alien species.
Other threats to conservation in the NWA include:

• hunting and poaching
• gaps in scientific knowledge
• contaminated sediment
• accidental marine spills

Management Agency

Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service)

Public access and usage

Access is prohibited. No activities are authorized without a permit.

Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page, any notice posted at the NWA site and the law, the law prevails, as it is the legal instrument authorizing the activity. 

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada - Quebec Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Protected Areas
801-1550, avenue d'Estimauville
Québec, Québec
G1J 0C3

Toll-free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Documents and related links

• Îles de la Paix NWA management plan
• Îles de la Paix NWA pamphlet
• Canada Wildlife Act
• Wildlife Area Regulations
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Nature Counts – The State of Canada’s Birds
• Species at risk public registry
• Lac Saint-Louis and Îles de la Paix Important Bird Area (IBA)
• Îles de la Paix MBS
• Îles de la Paix NWA on Google maps (Please note that the Google map is a complementary source of information. It does not represent the official map or site name).