The Table de Concertation pour l’Environnement dans le Haut-Saint-Laurent (TCEHSL) is marking “Water Month” this June with the introduction of an interactive tool, which was developed by the Ambioterra conservation organization to better coordinate local efforts to protect the region’s water and natural environments.
The searchable database brings together 27 different conservation or environmental protection plans that are active in the region in a single location, making it possible to quickly identify the natural environments, protected species, and environmental threats that are currently being addressed by ten local and regional organizations and groups.
Several strategic areas in the Haut-Saint-Laurent have already been identified as the focus of conservation and restoration efforts, most notably around the Châteauguay, Noire, Trout, and English Rivers. These efforts are designed to both preserve biodiversity and to the protect the water resources upon which local communities depend.
The database has identified a growing mobilization around projects that emphasize the protection of water resources, particularly in terms of bank erosion, the degradation of natural habitats, the impacts of agricultural activities, invasive species, and water quality.
Beyond the relevance for experts and organizations, this initiative is also good news for Haut-Saint-Laurent residents. The information is compiled in such a way that it clearly identifies the issues that are directly affecting issues such as water quality, the natural areas frequented by families, and the green spaces that contribute to residents’ quality of life.
This will also help citizens become more aware of the projects taking place near their homes, the different protected species and habitats within their municipality, and the concrete efforts being made to preserve the region’s environments for future generations. The centralization of this information also facilitates citizen participation, and encourages greater collaboration between communities, municipalities and environmental organizations.
Users can search the database based on a variety of criteria, such as specific natural environments, targeted species, environmental threats, or by conservation objectives. The project was designed to promote knowledge sharing, regional coordination, and the development of more joint actions at the local and regional level.
The database can now be downloaded from the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s website at cdchsl.org. (SR)