CONCRETE ACTIONS
The Boucher Forest Foundation is devoted to conserving the Boucher Forest and to making the population aware of the importance of this semi-urban forest, specifically by organizing several activities. These include:
• Organization of an annual clean-up since 2006 during which 17 tons of garbage has been collected.
• Planting of 21,500 trees in three years in the forest.
• Set up of a Boucher Forest Foundation internet site which is frequently visited by users of the Forest.
• Organization of a photo contest since 2008.
• Commission of a feasibility study by the philanthropic firm Ketchum Canada Inc. At a cost of $14,000.
• Hiring of a project manager in June 2009.
• Meeting in Montreal with the political aide of Minister Beauchamp and in Quebec with the Deputy Minister of the ministère du Développement durable, de l’environnement et des parcs(MDDEP) to present a request the transfer of land belonging to the Ministère des Transports (transfer to MDDEP). The land was in fact transferred to the MDDEP.
• Organization of a bioblitz (June 2010), in which researchers inventoried 300 plant and animal species in 24 hours.
• Recognition as a charitable organization eligible for the Ecological Donations Program of Environment Canada.
Involvement of the City of Gatineau
The municipality of Gatineau is in the process of protecting and enhancing its natural environment. Particular emphasis has been placed on the protection of woodlands. The Boucher Forest, with 700 contiguous acres, represents one of the most promising sites of this approach. With this in mind, the city has already become owner of more than of half of this nature area. Among the other actions undertaken by the city to turn this preservation project into reality are:
• Deferred zoning designation by the municipal council in 2003 to prevent any development within the boundaries of the Forest.
• Commissioning of an ecological descriptive study by the City of Gatineau at a cost of $25,000.
• Completion of the Boucher Forest Management Plan at a cost of $30,000 that sets out three options for preserving and promoting the Forest.
•Presentation of the Management Plan to the population at a public consultation, which had the highest participation. Over 80 % of citizens voted in favour of the entire conservation of the Forest.
• Commissioning of a study of the ecological study of Boucher Forest by the firm Aménatech. To access the results of this study published in September 2010, please see the « News » section.
Coming Events in 2011
• Clean-up and bioblitz 2011.
• Launch of Friends of Boucher Forest to give hikers and citizens an opportunity to demonstrate their support for conservation of the forest and for the Foundation and to become more involved.
