An online poll has been launched in both French and English for residents of Quebec’s L’Outaouais region to work together to shape a world-class land use policy that will affect how we address climate-change, species diversity, flood prevention, soil and pollution run-off for the next decade.
This is especially important to address a much needed policy regarding land-owners and the unsustainable practice to clear cut and tile important wetlands for industrial-scale agriculture – a recent problem here in Bristol. Also at the table is the local organization, Pontiac Environmental Protection (PEP), pepqc.org
[Originally published at MRCPontiac.qc.ca on March 16.]
This public consultation process is part of the development of the Regional Wetlands and Water Bodies Plans (PRMHHs). These plans are a new legal obligation under the Act respecting the conservation of wetlands and bodies of water adopted by the National Assembly in 2017.
The purpose of the PRMHHs is to align land use and wetlands and water bodies conservation, notably to improve community resilience to climate change. The term “wetlands” refers to ponds, marshes, swamps and peat bogs, while water bodies include lakes, rivers and streams.
The law stipulates that each MRC must produce its PRMHH by June 2022. In the Outaouais, the MRCs of Papineau, Collines-de-l’Outaouais, La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and Pontiac have chosen to work together in a concerted effort to develop their respective PRMHHs. This joint initiative is coordinated by the CREDDO (Conseil Régional d l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais).
The poll and more information is available at this link…https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFd3pks6wTCprvODGjCMeHa_vbdg4eCA8q3RSTsiV4nZewtA/viewform