The Gouvernement du Québec approved the designation of the Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée Aawiitakuch following the submission in the fall of 2020 of a joint brief from the Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. The legally protected status contemplated for this territory is that of a “biodiversity reserve,” which is governed by the Natural Heritage Conservation Act.
Geographical location, boundaries and dimensions
Brief description
The Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée Aawiitakuch was selected for its contribution to the attainment of representativeness objectives in the Caniapiscau Depression territorial zone. It is part of the Grande Rivière drainage basin and is situated southeast of the Laforge 1 reservoir. The Trans-Taiga Road intersects the territory. To the west, dead-ice moraine and Rogen moraine lands are representative of the Rogen Plain territorial zone. To the east, the thin till hills are contributing to the attainment of preservation objectives in the Caniapiscau Depression territorial zone. From a cultural standpoint, the territory includes a significant site that groups together numerous family camps. It should be noted that this territory is part of the wintering area of the Rivière aux Feuilles migratory woodland caribou herd.
Protection measures applied in the territory
No natural resource exploration or exploitation activity (mining, energy and forests) is allowed in the territory of the territorial reserve for protected area purposes The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks will ensure the maintenance of the administrative and legal provisions that their prohibition requires.