Plan St-Laurent - Pour un développement durable

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  • In brief – 2007

Welcome to Pointe aux Pins

Terrain privé. Bienvenue aux visiteurs ! [Private. Visitors welcome!] Since June 2007, this panel has replaced another one prohibiting access to the western extremity of Île aux Grues, in the Montmagny archipelago. The good news is that almost all of this private property covering Pointe aux Pins is made up of an exceptional forest ecosystem: a grove of mature maples, some of which are 300 years old. Even better: the new owner, a non-profit organization called Nature Conservancy is planning indefinite enhancement and preservation of this 48-ha jewel of nature, which will be open to the public.

Photo by: Claude Duchaîne

Nature Conservancy acquired the property with assistance from the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs [sustainable development, environment and parks], the Fondation Hydro-Québec pour l’environnement, the Fondation de la faune [wildlife foundation] du Québec and the Fondation Riopelle-Vachon. The Community Interaction Program, which is part of the St. Lawrence Plan, is contributing more than $20,000 to the implementation of plans for enhancement of the site: visitor reception, 3 km of walking trail, and interpretation panels. These improvements are to be completed by the end of 2008.

Photo by: Nature Conservancy

In addition to its 300-year-old maples, the exceptional forest ecosystem of Pointe aux Pins includes a fine stand of American beech, hop-hornbeam and butternut, a species that is disappearing in Canada. The underbrush includes six plants considered imperilled in Quebec, including false mermaid and giant bittercress. Three threatened species grow on the foreshore: Parker’s pipewort, Victorin’s gentian and Victorin’s water hemlock. The latter two, and four other shoreline species, make up a set of flora that is found only in the freshwater estuary of the St. Lawrence.

Photo by: Nature Conservancy

For more information:

Nature Conservancy
500, place d’Armes, bureau 1400
Montréal (Québec)  H2Y 2W2
Tel.: 1-877-876-5444
E-mail: quebec@conservationdelanature.ca
Site Internet : www.conservationdelanature.ca