What is the Forêt de L'Isle?

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The target area hosts a multitude of animal, plant, and fungi species.  From the towering white pines overhead to the lady's slippers orchids on the forest floor. With beavers, black bears, fishers, and porcupine (to name only a few) roaming the wilds. L'Isle-aux-Allumettes is home to an amazing variety of species that rely on our forests. In particular, a large portion of the target area has been designated by the Pontiac MRC as an area of ecological interest for its important white-tailed deer habitat. 

The area also acts as an important ecological corridor connecting species to the Ottawa River and other natural areas such as Westmeath Provincial Park in Ontario to the Coulonge and Noire river watersheds. Ecological corridors are important in maintaining a resilient ecosystem while supporting the health of local wildlife populations. 

The Outaouais is a biodiversity hotspot. In our region, there are 150 species at risk, 25 of which are on the list of species at risk in Canada and 11 are considered globally rare. These include the Western Chorus Frogs, Bald Eagles, Butternut trees, and Loggerhead Shrikes. Some scientists have stated that the Outaouais probably supports the largest turtle populations in the province of Québec, this makes our region particularly important for conservation given that five of our native turtle species are also considered species at risk. 

While more research is needed in our target zone, several at risk animals such as the grasshopper sparrow, the northern watersnake, and the western chorus frog as well as several at risk plant species such as the northern wild comfrey, fragrant sumac, the Susquehanna sand cherry, and the woodland sunflower have all been identified in or close to the target area.

Southern Québec hosts ecosystems that are considered important for their high biodiversity value and abundance of species, yet they are less likely to be protected for conservation purposes due to stronger competition for land for development. 

L'Isle-aux-Allumettes is located in the maple-bitternut hickory bioclimactic zone, home to most diverse flora in the entire province, which extends along the banks of the Ottawa river from L'Isle-aux-Allumettes all the way to Montréal. This region has relatively few protected areas putting us in the perfect location to conserve relatively intact natural areas with high biodiversity value that would be unlikely to be protected elsewhere. 

The Forêt de L'Isle will serve to protect a natural area in the community in perpetuity and will help the eventual return of old growth forest habitats. This is important because old growth ecosystems are extremely rare in Southern Canada. Certain species rely exclusively on old growth habitats to survive, protecting and allowing some forests to mature into old growth will help the specific species that rely on these ecosystems thrive into the future. 

The target area is the entrance to Québec for many. Having a communal forest area welcome visitors will help show off one of the region's most valuable assets, our incredible proximity to intact natural areas. While also underlining the important community values of the area. It will also serve to attract new residents to our community by showing just one example of what L'Isle-aux-Allumettes has to offer.

While intrinsically valuable, protected natural areas provide several important services for society. Forested areas help clean the air, regulate temperatures, store carbon, support pollination, and support mental and physical health. Wetlands help mitigate flooding, clean our water, regulate our water table, and more. Protecting natural areas will help ensure our community, and in some cases those downriver, will benefit from all that nature has to offer now and into the future.