June/July 2013 - Community Connections
June/July 2013 - Community Connections
June/July 2013 - Community Connections
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Connections</strong> Page 3<br />
<strong>June</strong>/<strong>July</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
Deux-Montagnes' Boisé-<br />
Roger-Lemoine : First<br />
Nature Reserve Owned<br />
by a Municipality.<br />
The City of Deux-Montagnes and the<br />
members of the Corporation des boisés et<br />
des parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes are<br />
proud to announce that the 8.14 hectare<br />
Boisé-Roger-Lemoine, property in Deux<br />
-Montagnes, is now recognized as a nature<br />
reserve under the Natural Heritage<br />
Conservation Act. This is the first ever<br />
nature reserve to be owned by a municipality.<br />
In fact, on January 3, <strong>2013</strong>, the Ministry<br />
of Sustainable Development, Environment,<br />
Wildlife and Parks (MDDEFP)<br />
issued a public notice in the Gazette officielle<br />
du Québec to announce that the<br />
Boisé-Roger-Lemoine Nature Reserve,<br />
owned by the City of Deux-Montagnes,<br />
is now recognized as a nature reserve in<br />
accordance with Section 58 (chapter C-<br />
61.01) of the Natural Heritage Conservation<br />
Act. This recognition is valid for<br />
a period of 100 years.<br />
"The protection of biodiversity is everyone's<br />
business. The approach taken by<br />
the City of Deux-Montagnes and the<br />
members of the Corporation des boisés et<br />
des parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes<br />
serves as an example for the entire<br />
Province," declared Yves-François<br />
Blanchet, MDDEFP Mintster. "No doubt<br />
the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine will contribute<br />
to the quality of life and civic pride<br />
of the citizens of Deux-Montagnes."<br />
"The City submitted an extended request<br />
to the MDDEFP to ensure that all<br />
81,394.7 m 2 of the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine<br />
would be recognized as a nature reserve<br />
for the next 100 years, especially<br />
since this is the first nature reserve to be<br />
owned by a municipality," said Mayor<br />
Marc Lauzon.<br />
"As an elected official, I want to emphasize<br />
the memorable efforts made by all<br />
the volunteer members of the Corporation<br />
des boisés de Deux-Montagnes over<br />
the course of this wonderful project. As<br />
President of the Corporation, I also want<br />
to point out the valuable collaboration<br />
of the City council and staff. Thanks to<br />
this recognition, we have ensured the<br />
conservation of the exceptional natural<br />
characteristics of these woods for a century,"<br />
said Mario Saint-Charles, Deux-<br />
Montagnes City Councillor and President<br />
of the Corporation des boisés et des<br />
parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes.<br />
Composed of a wooded area and a cattail<br />
marsh, the Boisé is home to a diverse<br />
selection of flora and fauna. The<br />
cattail is recognized for its ability to<br />
eliminate certain impurities in water.<br />
The wooded area is an old hardwood<br />
forest that serves as a refuge for plants<br />
likely to be endangered or vulnerable in<br />
Québec. Therein, we find black ash, red<br />
ash, beech, American lime and red elm.<br />
Some sugar maples have even been<br />
estimated at 225<br />
years old, a rare<br />
occurrence in a<br />
near-urban forest.<br />
The fauna also encompasses<br />
a rich<br />
variety of wildlife.<br />
It is home to redshouldered<br />
hawks,<br />
cardinals, blue jays,<br />
black-capped chickadees, wood ducks<br />
and mallards, different kinds of woodpeckers,<br />
brown snakes, chipmunks,<br />
squirrels and snowshoe hares.<br />
As part of the agreement of recognition<br />
of a nature reserve, signed by the City<br />
and the MDDEFP, the City of Deux-<br />
Montagnes commits to the following<br />
conservation objectives:<br />
1- Conserve a natural and indigenous<br />
forest cover in an urban<br />
context;<br />
2- Maintain and enhance conditions<br />
favourable to species that<br />
are endangered, vulnerable or<br />
likely to be designated as such;<br />
3- Promote the conservation of<br />
green spaces and provide refuge<br />
for flora and fauna in an<br />
urban context;<br />
4- Maintain the vocation of a<br />
natural park in an urban area.<br />
The City also agrees not to change the<br />
dedication of the property, nor to sell<br />
it, trade it or perform any other transaction<br />
that could affect its protection<br />
status, unless the Minister has been<br />
previously consulted.