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No sustainable development without communication
Without grassroots communication, sustainable development of the St. Lawrence will never happen. People must meet, discuss, share their knowledge and avoid remaining isolated in their own areas of interest.
This is one of the key points to come out of the May 2007 forum organized by the Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches ZIP Committee to conclude its fifteenth year of activity. The forum, entitled “Développement durable du fleuve Saint-Laurent : vers une vision commune” was an opportunity to work towards a common vision for the sustainable development of the St. Lawrence River.
The other point emphasized was that the sustainability of the river’s resources is not negotiable. The economic uses of the St. Lawrence must not be detrimental to water quality, wetland conservation and even traditional activities such as fishing and swimming, which should soon be possible once again in the Quebec City area.
Forum participants, representing a remarkable mix of stakeholders, had only one day to learn about the environmental situation of the river in the region, hear about certain government programs (including the St. Lawrence Plan), identify approaches to regional sustainable development of the river and suggest concrete ways of implementing the approaches—a very full agenda! Groundwater, introduced species and water level, as well as river access, the marine industry and aid to grassroots organizations were also discussed.
learly, there is more to say, agrees Hamida Hassein-Bey, Director General of the ZIP Committee. “In order to truly decide on a common vision for the sustainable development of the St. Lawrence in our region, we must continue this focus day,” she says. “As our means permit and depending on the financial partners we are able to find, we will organize forums dedicated to exploring the topic in detail.”
Until then, a summary of the most recent forum and the workshop discussions can be found on the ZIP Committee’s Web site (www.zipquebec.com). The complete forum proceedings may also be obtained from the Committee.
For more information:
Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches ZIP Committee
Édifice La Fabrique
295 Boul. Charest Est, Suite 099
Quebec City, Quebec
G1K 3G8
Tel.: 418-522-8080
Email: zipquebec@zipquebec.com
Date modified: 2008/06/19 – Important Notices
