The City of Deux-Montagnes and the members of the Corporation des boisés et des parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes are proud to announce that the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine, a 8.14 hectare property located in Deux-Montagnes, is now recognized as a nature reserve under the Natural Heritage Conservation Act. This is the first ever nature reserve to be owned by a municipality.
In fact, on January 3, 2013, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks (MDDEFP) issued a public notice in the Gazette officielle du Québec to announce that the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine Nature Reserve, owned by the City of Deux-Montagnes, is now recognized as a nature reserve in accordance with Section 58 (chapter C-61.01) of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act. This recognition is valid for a period of 100 years.
“The protection of biodiversity is everyone’s business. The approach taken by the City of Deux-Montagnes and the members of the Corporation des boisés et des parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes serves as an example for the entire Province,” declared Yves-François Blanchet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks. “No doubt the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine will contribute to the quality of life and civic pride of the citizens of Deux-Montagnes.”
“The City submitted an extended request to the MDDEFP to ensure that all 81,394.7 m2 of the Boisé-Roger-Lemoine would be recognized as a nature reserve for the next 100 years, especially since this is the first nature reserve to be owned by a municipality,” said the Mayor, Marc Lauzon.
“As an elected official, I want to emphasize the memorable efforts made by all the volunteer members of the Corporation des boisés de Deux-Montagnes over the course of this wonderful project. As President of the Corporation, I also want to point out the valuable collaboration of the City council and staff. Thanks to this recognition, we have ensured the conservation of the exceptional natural characteristics of these woods?for a century,” said Mario Saint-Charles, Deux-Montagnes City Councillor and President of the Corporation des boisés et des parcs naturels de Deux-Montagnes.
Composed of a wooded area and a cattail marsh, the Boisé is home to a diverse selection of flora and fauna. The cattail is recognized for its ability to eliminate certain impurities in water. The wooded area is an old hardwood forest that serves as a refuge for plants likely to be endangered or vulnerable in Québec. Therein, we find black ash, red ash, beech, American lime and red elm. Some sugar maples have even been estimated at 225 years old, a rare occurrence in a near-urban forest.
The fauna also encompasses a rich variety of wildlife. It is home to red-shouldered hawks, cardinals, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, wood ducks and mallards, different kinds of woodpeckers, brown snakes, chipmunks, squirrels and snowshoe hares.
As part of the agreement of recognition of a nature reserve, signed by the City and the MDDEFP, the City of Deux-Montagnes commits to the following conservation objectives:
- Conserve a natural and indigenous forest cover in an urban context;
- Maintain and enhance conditions favourable to species that are endangered, vulnerable or likely to be designated as such;
- Promote the conservation of green spaces and provide refuge for flora and fauna in an urban context;
- Maintain the vocation of a natural park in an urban area.
The City also agrees not to change the dedication of the property, nor to sell it, trade it or perform any other transaction that could affect its protection status, unless the Minister has been previously consulted.
