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.

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. The call for projects on protected areas in southern public territories covers both continental and marine environments.

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 covered by this call for projects.

Submit a project

The project submission period has now ended.

Indigenous communities and nations can still avail themselves of a special procedure for submitting their projects. This procedure is consistent with the Plan nature 2030, which aims to support Indigenous leadership and initiatives in biodiversity conservation. For more information, visit the website of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute.

Requirement to obtain a resolution of support for the analysis

The support of the regional county municipality (RCM) is mandatory for the analysis of a protected area project. If you have submitted a proposal to the Ministère, you must also send it to the RCM(s) concerned to obtain a resolution of support for the project analysis. The resolution must be adopted and submitted to the Ministère no later than January 10, 2025. If necessary, consult the Make your mark section of the Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec) website, which can support you throughout the process with the RCM.

For projects by an Indigenous community or nation, a resolution from the band council or board of the Indigenous organization replaces that of the RCM. You must submit the resolution no later than January 10, 2025 to apia@environnement.gouv.qc.ca. For indigenous projects submitted under the special process linked to Section 4.3 of the National Heritage Conservation Act (NHCA), resolutions may be submitted at a later date, unless a preliminary interministerial analysis is desired.

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

Selection process

The call for projects has three key phases:

1. Project submission

   Organizations and the general public were able to submit their projects to the Ministère before October 15, 2024. Resolutions of support for the analysis of projects adopted by the RCMs concerned or resolutions from the band council or board of directors of the Indigenous organization must be submitted by January 10, 2025. In winter 2025, a preliminary project analysis by the relevant departments will begin.

   In addition, the MELCCFP may come up with proposals if regional gaps are found within the network of protected areas.

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.

   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 projects will be selected to become protected areas.

   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 made.

3. Interdepartmental analysis and final government decision

   The final interdepartmental analysis of the selected projects will be completed in 2027 for governmental decision-making.

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

   Note that activities to develop natural resources and the territory may continue in the territories targeted by the protected area proposals, until the final government consensus is obtained, if applicable

   A second call for projects will follow. Its nature and scope will be defined at the end of the first call for projects.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the call for projects, you can contact the Ministère by writing to appelprojetsAP.2024@environnement.gouv.qc.ca

For help in submitting your project 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.