The
37 protected sites of Saint-Laurent Vision 2000:
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| Conservation
of 7000 hectares |
Tourbière de Lanoraie
Aerial view of an ericaceaous
plants
community on the ecological reserve and on
SCTL properties. Photo: Chantal Lavigne |
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The
site located southeast of Joliette protects a huge complex
of ombrotrophic (bog) and minerotrophic (fen) peatlands.
Part of this habitat is comprised in the Tourbières-de-Lanoraie
ecological reserve. A local non-governmental organization,
the Société pour la conservation de la tourbière de
Lanoraie (SCTL), has setout to consolidate protection of
this unique site, which is representative of the St. Lawrence
Lowlands, along with the different types of natural habitat
in the adjacent area. |
With St. Lawrence Vision 2000 funding, the
SCTL acquired several parcels of land, ensuring the conservation
of 111.72 hectares of habitat. Two other lots (7.38 ha)
are covered by a private stewardship arrangement under a conservation
easement spanning 10 years.
| The
protected lots, mostly situated on the margins of the ecological
reserve, are primarily minerotrophic peatlands (fens) featuring
a variety of vegetation communities: tamarack–speckled
alder, tamarack–sheep
laurel, grey birch–red maple, black spruce–mountain
holly, speckled alder with willows and cattails, and so
on. In addition, the bog complex contains two plant species
that are likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable:
dragon’s mouth (Arethesa bulbosa) and
the Virginia chain-fern (Woodwardia virginica). The
latter species also grows on some of the lots acquired by
the SCTL. |
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Tamarack-speckled
alder stand.
Photo: Luc Robillard
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Although knowledge of the fauna is incomplete,
it is highly diverse. In a 1996 survey, 56 breeding bird species
were inventoried in the ecological reserve. One of them, the
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis), is likely to be designated
as threatened or vulnerable. Moose, white-tailed deer, beaver,
muskrat and snowshoe hares have also been observed in the region.
Thanks to the involvement of local residents, an area totalling
119.10 hectares was recently added to the 415 hectares
making up the reserve, securing the long-term preservation of
this large peatland complex.
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