Protecting Mont Gale
Successful conservation efforts results in the protection of 34.7 acres of Mont Gale’s forest
After launching their initiative in 2021, Protection Mont Gale and Appalachian Corrdor have succeeded in protecting part of Mont Gale’s forest. Photo courtesy of Stéphanie Latour.
By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily News Bits
CIDI 99.1 FM
Citizens group Protection Mont-Gale and conservation organization Appalachian Corridor have succeeded in protecting 34.7 acres of a high ecological value forest in Bromont’s Mont Gale area.
With the support of their financial partners and a major local fundraising campaign, Protection Mont-Gale and Appalachian Corridor raised over $3 million to bring the project to life. This piece of land is now protected in perpetuity and it marks one of the last major conservation efforts needed to preserve Mont Gale.
Protection Mont-Gale came together two-years ago after discovering that the piece of land in question was set aside by the original landowner, Denis Laframboise, for the construction of a housing development, for a total of 12 new homes, and a road. With the help of Appalachian Corridor, the groups negotiated with Laframboise and the municipality to reconsider the development plan and to have a conservation project instead.
As a result of these negotiations, only a small parcel of the land, which totals 41 acres, will be used for the construction of a maximum of four houses. Protection Mont-Gale will now also serve as the stewards of the land and citizens will be able to experience Mont Gale exactly as it is, now and in the future.
“It’s still hard to believe. We went back to the forest and then we realized that nothing will ever change, that’s quite impressive. I would say we are proud of the entire group, what we achieved, and the way that we did it,” said Stéphanie Latour. “(…) Appalachian Corridor are really the ones that made it happen, they have the strong expertise, they have to negotiate with the owner, and they have to find some funds as well. We just followed their lead and did our part as well.”
After signing an agreement with Laframboise in 2021, which required Protection Mont-Gale to raise a specific sum of money to have the project taken into consideration, the group turned to Appalachian Corridor for its expertise in working with private landowners to sell their land for conservation projects. Appalachian Corridor immediately stepped in after taking into consideration the citizen’s attachment to Mont Gale and the forest’s high ecological value, but not without its challenges.
“Since the value of the property was so high it was not eligible for public grants, that was a major problem. (…) We looked at the possibility to let go of a parcel of land, in which the promoter could maintain housing development on that part of the project, while keeping the major sensitive areas and the main acreage of the property so that the value could be less and be eligible for a conservation project,” noted Mélanie Lelièvre, director of Appalachian Corridor. “(…) We signed the agreement and we moved on with the funding of this property. The citizens had to raise close to $400,000 and they did it.”
As a result of their conservation efforts, citizens will be able to enjoy Mont Gale as they always have. Protection Mont Gale hopes to see other people from the community get involved in helping protect the piece of land.
“The community is used of working the trails that are already there, so we will be able to enjoy it as we are able to enjoy it today. The other part, I think it’s a new adventure for everyone. As Mélanie always mentioned to me, it’s the beginning of something else once it’s preserved. We hope that all the citizens will take part in the stewardship that is going to happen because this is what is going to happen next,” mentioned Latour.
“It’s going to be protected forever so we will do our homework related to that. We will make sure this forest is maintained the way it is, that it’s well preserved, that the natural habitats are maintained. We will make some visits and make sure that the trails that are already there are correctly designed,” added Lelièvre. “Maybe this summer we will work on the trails to make sure they aren’t presenting any threats to the fragile plant population. We will work with Protection Mont Gale to have them as stewards of the land and be sure they are our ears and eyes on that property.”
There are many reasons why this particular part of Mont Gale is of high ecological value, according to Lelièvre, including the fact that it is one of nine mountains located in the Monteregian Hills.
“The Monteregian Hills has been recognized as a priority for conservation because they offer specific conditions for soil and forests that grow there. Plus, the Mont Brome Range (which it is a part of) is within a large, unfragmented, forest core that has been identified by Appalachian Corridor,” she explained. “(…) Within this specific forest we found old growth, so very large trees and old trees. It is surrounded by other protected properties. Three sides of this land is surrounded by other conservation projects. As well, we found many threatened species, like plants and amphibians, that are present and that are rare. For all of these reasons we had to protect it and it was really worth it.”
Listen to the full interview below for more information on the conservation project: