Natural Allies: Conservation as a Climate Shield

Did you know that the more we protect nature, the more effective we become at fighting climate change? Even better, did you know that leaving nature undisturbed allows it to better adapt to ongoing changes? In fact, natural ecosystems are carbon sponges, and we simply need to let them be so they can capture carbon from the atmosphere and reduce the levels of climate-disrupting greenhouse gases. Numerous scientific publications support this, and it is what drives us to continue to move forward on dozens of conservation projects across Quebec, as demonstrated in a new animated video released this week.

In this new video, we see that protecting carbon-rich ecosystems and reaching its 30% conservation target by 2030 will assuredly benefit Quebec.

Increasing pressure on natural environments

Quebec’s ecosystems are invaluable for climate stability, yet they are under severe threat from industrial exploitation, seeking to harvest trees, minerals, or produce energy. For decades, Quebec’s forests have been harvested at a rate of over 1,000 football fields per day. As our recent video illustrates, logging exacerbates the climate crisis by releasing vast quantities of carbon into the atmosphere and preventing forests from continuing to act as carbon sinks for decades after logging.

In addition to forestry pressure, there is also mining pressure: more than 78,500 km² or 14.4% of public land in southern Quebec is currently covered by a mining claim. The presence of the mining industry is one of the main obstacles to conservation today, and is also the main cause of wetland destruction in the province. According to government data, 30% of the peatlands destroyed between 2017 and 2023 were destroyed to make way for mining activities. Finally, urban sprawl and the conversion of forests into agricultural land are leading to a decrease in the size of our natural environments, particularly wetlands, which are often considered fertile.

These growing threats are catalyzing citizen mobilization, and initiatives like Nature alliée are more important than ever. Natural environments provide invaluable ecosystem services, including climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. However, they are now under serious threat, and we must pay them full attention to make sure they do not disappear or become severely fragmented.

Millions of hectares of “turnkey” sites for the government

The Nature alliée initiative brings together Indigenous partners, citizen groups, municipalities, and university research groups to implement conservation projects for carbon-rich natural environments, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change and helping the Quebec government reach its target of 30% protected areas by 2030. More than 30 sites covering nearly 2 million hectares have already been identified, documented, and mapped. These sites are threatened and deserve the full attention of the Quebec government, otherwise they risk losing their precious attributes as carbon sinks and refuges for biodiversity.

A project backed by science

Among the assets of the Nature alliée initiative, research aimed at measuring carbon stocks in areas to be protected provides a high-quality tool for partners who wish to highlight the climate value of the sites in question. In addition to quantifying the carbon stored in the soils and vegetation of areas to be protected, researchers at the University of Quebec in Outaouais, Laval University, the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the University of Quebec in Montreal, and INRS are attempting to demonstrate through their research the significant impact that the destruction or disruption of these exceptional ecosystems would have on their carbon stocks. In addition, INRS researchers are developing a mapping tool that combines field sampling data from other scientific partners, aerial images of the target sites taken by drone, high-resolution satellite images, and data from scientific literature to identify areas with the highest carbon density and support decision-making when implementing conservation projects.

Ultimately, mapping tools, mobilization, documentation, and the development of an irrefutable case for each targeted site serve to give the government all the tools it needs to grant protected status to these threatened areas, and fulfill its commitments to achieve 30% conservation by 2030. These sites are true climate shields and essential refuges for many species. When it comes to land-use planning, the best way to fight the climate and biodiversity crises will always be to let nature take its course without interference.