Setting the context

The logging industry in Quebec is a vital component of the economy, and the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) plays a crucial role in regulating it to ensure sustainable practices that are environmentally friendly. The MRNF enforces strict environmental laws and standards to safeguard forest ecosystems, preserve wildlife habitats and maintain biodiversity.

The MRC de la Haute-Gatineau adopted a revised version of its land use and development plan in 2020, which included several changes. Despite requests from the Association for the Protection of the Cedar Lakes (APLC) to designate the land west of Grand lac des Cèdres as a protected area, it was ultimately designated as a recreational forestry zone, which permits sustainable forestry practices. See our file on the SAD (land use and development plan).

Cedar lakes situation: Summary of APLC's actions taken to address the issue

The APLC argues that logging in the area west of Grand lac des Cèdres could have severe and lasting impacts on the preservation of local biodiversity and ecosystems. In addition, this activity poses a serious threat to the water quality of the lake, potentially causing irreversible harm.

The MRNF began a consultation process in January 2022 regarding new proposed logging sites. Among these sites is the region located west of Grand lac des Cèdres, which includes the Darby site. While a section of this site has been logged previously, the southeasternmost part of the area is now being considered for logging.

The consultation process provides an opportunity for the ministry to gather feedback from the public and better understand their concerns regarding the proposed logging areas. Thereafter, the ministry’s forestry engineer is responsible for harmonizing the various uses of the forest, taking into account its unique characteristics and features. This process directly impacts the parameters of forest harvesting.

Here is a recap of APLC concerns regarding the western area of Grand lac des Cèdres and the elements that were added to harmonize land use in the 2022 public consultation:

• This area contains a plant classified as "vulnerable" by the Quebec government. The American coneflower (Conopholis americana) was found there during a botanical assessment subsidized by the APLC.
• Presence of a red oak grove and a beech–maple grove. The presence of these trees enhances the diversity of the forest ecosystem, which is crucial for its overall health and sustainability.
• Submission for the creation of a protected area. This application is still under consideration by the Ministère de l’Environnement and it falls within the scope of a review to be conducted by 2030. This application would effectively nullify any future development plans for the area.
• The target area includes a significant drop in elevation, and as per the MRNF, it’s mandatory to maintain a 20 m wide wooded strip along the lake. However, environmental experts point out that these strips may not always act as effective barriers. They may allow for the entry of organic matter and pollutants such as tree fragments, soil, phosphorus and nitrogen into the lake due to cutting, erosion, rainfall and the impact of climate change.

Ministry officials confirmed during the consultation exercise that we can submit additional elements for consideration during the site planning stage as part of the harmonization of uses process.

The APLC submitted a proposal to the MRNF in January 2023, with the objective of protecting the waterfront of Grand lac des Cèdres, which is likely to be altered by any forestry activities. The APLC considers preserving the quality of the landscape, particularly along Grand lac des Cèdres, to be crucial for aesthetics, biodiversity, recreational development and conservation. Grand lac des Cèdres is both a resort lake and a designated site of wildlife interest.

The ministry has accepted our request to include the identified sites shown on the map in the planned forest management in the area. Specific measures will be implemented to minimize any negative impact on the landscape. The classifications for each area are as follows:

The identified sensitive landscapes have been classified as low or moderate vulnerability, indicating they require protection and management to maintain their current ecological status.

The APLC's proposal, including the main elements of interest such as ecological and recreational features, is summarized in the map above. The map also indicates the sites that are the subject of this first application, demonstrating how our proposal supports the harmonization of uses.

Please click on the map above it displays all the relevant elements that need to be taken into consideration across our territory. An English version of the text will be available soon.

Actions taken by the APLC

Below is a list of measures and interventions implemented by the APLC to protect the territory and prevent logging in the Grand lac des Cèdres area.

Actions taken and planned in 2023

• Submission of an application for the protection of the shoreline forest landscape of Grand lac des Cèdres.
• The MRNF confirms that the request has been accepted.
• Summer 2023: The APLC plans to create a mountaintop viewpoint featuring a bench. This initiative will enhance both the ecological and recreational potential of the area. 

Actions taken in 2022

• The APLC participates in the MRNF's public consultation, and the community's mobilization results in more than 170 comment forms being submitted to voice user concerns.
• Thanks to the mobilization, a meeting is organized on May 2 with MRNF officials, who confirm that:
  • A forestry operator may apply to the MRNF to log the Darby site within the next five years.
  • Before any logging activity can begin, the ministry must undertake the harmonization of uses phase. This phase is carried out by the ministry's forestry engineer and involves identifying all the uses and particularities of the forest. The results of this phase will directly impact the parameters of forest harvesting by the operator.
  • As part of the harmonization of uses phase, the engineer would contact the APLC to discuss member comments and assess their potential impact on the operation of various areas of the site.
  • The ministry has confirmed that we may submit additional comments prior to the harmonization of uses phase, to ensure they are considered during the site planning process.

Actions taken in 2020

• The APLC participates in public consultations for the territory's land use and development plan (schéma d'aménagement et de développement, or SAD) revision. See the SAD file..
• A petition calling for the west area of Grand lac des Cèdres to be designated as a protected area is launched and signed by 416 residents and users.
• The APLC ramps up communications with regional and provincial elected officials to ensure that our requests for changes in allocations are heard and acted upon.

Actions taken in 2016

• The APLC submits an application to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) seeking approval for a "Protected Area" project that would encompass the western section of Grand lac des Cèdres.
• The APLC conducts an inventory of rare plants on public lands around Grand lac des Cèdres and discovers a significant presence of the vulnerable Conopholis americana plant.