Watch our 2008 video about the protection of Lake Evans and his area.

Assinica Broadback-Evans region

Located entirely in Cree territory in Northern Quebec, the territory includes large intact forests, water bodies among the largest in Quebec, and many important species, including woodland caribou. While conservation of this region would greatly enhance the connectivity of the network of protected areas between James Bay and Lake Mistassini in the territory as woodland caribou habitat, the protected area projects are presently faced with many barriers.

On April 30, 2009, the Grand Council of the Crees and CPAWS Quebec issued an important announcement that the Quebec government suspend all logging on Cree territory until the woodland caribou habitat is protected. To read the press release.

Area Evans-Broadback endangered

A recent study by Nature Québec and the work of CPAWS Quebec in this area identify him as one of the areas with the greatest potential to establish a large protected area for woodland caribou. In fact, the entire area north of the river and Lake Broadback Evans has no road and has never been subject to logging. However, the crisis known as the industry pushes companies to plan for cuts and road building in this sector which is still a virgin and that, in 2009. The construction of two new bridges over the river Broadback would prompt manufacturers to cut in a mature forest still intact and where the woodland caribou habitat are established. The Cree Nation and CPAWS Quebec oppose any intervention in this region until the caribou habitat is protected.

Not that SNAP Québec has identified this territory as being of high biodiversity value. The Cree community is identified Waswanipi long been a territory of interest for conservation: the virgin forest Mesikamis. Unless we act quickly and if Quebec ignored our concerns and our demands soon, it will be the last intact forests on the territory Waswanipi to be fragmented.

Assinica Heritage Park Area

Previously, this region of Northern Quebec was an important territory for the fur trade. Indigenous communities there bartered their beaver skins cons of firearms or food. Declared a wildlife sanctuary Assinica Cree Ouje Bougoumou are now passionately draft Heritage Park Assinica to protect the wilderness. Completion of this project will protect natural and cultural attributes and exceptional development of sustainable economic development for the community and the region of Northern Quebec, including the establishment of a development based on ecotourism, protecting vast forests mature and attended by three herds of woodland caribou, preserving archaeological sites of great cultural significance to the Cree community, and by maintaining ecosystem already in place and functional. CPAWS Quebec and its partners have identified as a priority this park project.

Objectives

The creation of this park would:

• Completion of a fleet of 6,000 square kilometers within the wildlife reserve Assinica whose total area is 11,000 sq km.

• To increase by about 0,35 % area protected in Quebec and the province and bring its national and international commitments. In 2009, the government has reached a first step, ie 8.14% of protected areas. The goal now is 12% by 2015 and the park project is part of a Assinica five major parks to be created by 2011 under the Northern Plan.

• To establish a development based on ecotourism and cultural exchange benefits for short, medium and long terms for the community and region.

• To protect large forests frequented by three mature woodland caribou herds (herds Assinica and Broadback) species classified as "vulnerable" in Quebec and "threatened" in Canada.

• To preserve the archaeological sites of great cultural and spiritual activities to honor the Cree traditional values.

• Maintain up of intact ecosystems and the ecological services they provide, while fighting against climate change.

• To realize the implementation plan for restoration of woodland caribou by protecting large areas necessary for its survival.

Negotiations which stalled

Despite the inclusion of the draft agreement in the Paix des Braves Agreement affected by various government, the mobilization of the Cree community, the strong environmental interest, the potential for ecotourism development and support environmental groups, the negotiations stalled since 2002.

The Government persists in refusing to protect only non-forest areas (a ratio of 49% of the territory of the proposed Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife (MNRF) consists of lakes, rivers and bogs), excluding critical habitat of woodland caribou and the archaeological sites of value. Thus, only 2000 km² would be sold by the MNRF despite the insistence of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks to protect larger areas.

Note that the proposed park is located Assinica in the natural province of Mistassini Highlands, where less than 5% of forest land are protected.

Read our press release.