Call for projects on protected areas in southern public territories

The Québec government is committed to reaching its goal of conserving 30% of Québec’s territory by 2030. A call for projects on protected areas in southern public territories has been launched. This initiative covers both continental and marine environments.

Achieving this goal will require the combined efforts of many different players. Particular attention should be paid to southern Québec, where biodiversity is rich but faces increasing threats.

Development of the network of protected areas on private land or in the Nord-du-Québec region is the focus of similar initiatives geared to the specific characteristics of these territories.

Other conservation tools will be implemented alongside this call for projects to help reach the 30% target. Thus, other effective conservation measures (OECM) are not included in this call for projects.

Submit a project

When submitting your project, you must:

• Be able to locate the target territory on a map
• Identify the reasons why this territory should be protected and indicate the proposed protected area status
• Provide your contact details or those of the organization you represent
• To the best of your knowledge, briefly describe:
  • Target territory (maximum 3,000 characters)
  • The reasons why it is important to protect it (maximum 3,000 characters)
  • Potential social and economic impacts, both positive and negative, of protecting this area (maximum 3,000 characters)

If necessary, you can attach additional documents.

To submit your project, please use the dedicated web form (French). Disable your ad blockers if you have trouble accessing it.

You must submit all data at once, or it will be lost. Furthermore, once you’ve submitted your project, you won’t be able to modify it online. Make sure you have everything you need when submitting your project.

You will receive a confirmation once the project has been submitted.

You have until October 15, 2024, to submit your project.

Requirement to obtain a resolution of support for the analysis

The support of the regional county municipality (RCM) will be mandatory for the analysis of a protected area project. Once your project has been sent to the Ministère, you must send it as soon as possible to the RCM(s) concerned to obtain a resolution of support for the project analysis. The resolution must be adopted no later than November 29, 2024. The RCMs will send the adopted resolutions to us directly. If necessary, consult the faitesvotremarque website (French) of the Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec), which can support you throughout the process with the RCM:

faitesvotremarque@snapquebec.org
514 278-SNAP

For projects by an Indigenous community or nation, a resolution from the band council or board of the Indigenous organization may replace that of the RCM. This resolution must be emailed no later than November 29, 2024 to apia@environnement.gouv.qc.ca.

Although an RCM resolution is not required for Indigenous communities or nations, we encourage them to inform RCMs of their intention to submit a protected area proposal.

Selection process

The call for projects has three key phases:

1. Project submission

   Organizations and the general public are invited to submit their projects to the Ministère using the dedicated form and to the regional county municipalities (RCMs) concerned by such projects. In autumn 2024, preliminary project analysis by the relevant departments will begin.

2. Regional consultation

   In 2025, roundtables will be organized in all administrative regions concerned. Their aim will be to determine which territories should be given priority for establishing new protected areas in their region. A recommendation from each roundtable will be formally sent to the Ministère in spring 2026.

   The consultation process for projects involving, in whole or in part, coastal and marine environments, will be adapted on a case-by-case basis.

   Not all projets will be selected to become protected areas.

   <strong>Some projects may also be modified as a result of regional consultation, for example in terms of territory boundaries or target status. A notice will be sent to those responsible for each project to inform them of the decision.

3. Interdepartmental analysis and final government decision

   The final interdepartmental analysis of the selected projects will be carried out in 2026 for governmental decision-making. The legal setting aside of land is planned in 2027.

   For marine projects, additional coordination may be required given the shared responsabilities of the Québec and federal governments.

   A second call for projects will follow. It will then be possible to re-submit projects that have not been prioritized, or new projects developed in the meantime.

Contact us

If you do not wish to use the web form to submit your project, you can send it by email or mail to:

Direction principale des aires protégées
Édifice Marie-Guyart
675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 4^e étage
Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7
appelprojetsAP.2024@environnement.gouv.qc.ca

Consult the section on project submission to ensure you provide all the necessary information, or use the form (Word, 628 KB).

If you have any questions or would like assistance in preparing your project and submitting it to the RCM(s) concerned, please contact the Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec) at:

faitesvotremarque@snapquebec.org
514 278-SNAP

For any information or support in developing a project led by an Indigenous member, community, Nation or organization, you can contact the Sustainable Development Institute of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (FNQLIDD) at conservation@iddpnql.ca.