Châteauguay – Conserving and restoring nature are solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change. That is why the Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, municipalities, and other partners to protect carbon-sequestering habitats such as wetlands, mature forests, and peatlands across the country.
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, today announced an investment of $5 million for a project by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community). This project aims to acquire and protect, in perpetuity, up to 200 hectares in the forest corridor between the municipalities of Châteauguay and Léry, in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
The project will consolidate the ecological link between the two municipalities and help fight habitat loss and fragmentation in this highly biodiverse area. The Châteauguay-Léry Green Corridor is known for its diverse habitats, including six exceptional forest ecosystems and around 20 threatened plant species. It is home to the only significant colony listed in Quebec of the cockspur hawthorn, a tree species in the Rosaceae family that has been officially designated as threatened in Quebec since 2022. Ultimately, the project could also improve access to nature through the introduction of low-impact recreational activities, such as hiking and cross-country skiing.
“Nature-based solutions are among the most effective ways that we have of tackling climate change. Mature forests, like those in Châteauguay and Léry, are renowned for their ability to sequester large quantities of carbon, and their protection will help us meet our commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030. The combination of these habitats gives this forest corridor an exceptional character, making its protection essential.” – Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change