Appalachian Corridor and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are proud to announce the success of their fundraising efforts. The campaign to protect the Forêt Brière is now officially over.
Thanks to a tremendous collective effort and the generosity of our donors, the goal of raising over $1,000,000 in private funds has been reached, meaning this exceptional 540-hectare property in the heart of the Northern Green Mountains will be protected in perpetuity.
A VICTORY FOR NATURE
The campaign succeeded because of the incredible support we received. In addition to significant donations from the federal government, the Quebec government, and our American partners, the contributions from citizens, businesses and foundations were what tipped the scale. All these stakeholders working together made it possible to take a site threatened by real estate development and transform it into a natural sanctuary that will be protected for future generations.
By agreeing to donate such a large tract of land, Guy Brière, the landowner, made a significant contribution to the project. His cooperation and commitment to conservation enabled us to take this important step toward protecting nature in the area.
A PRICELESS LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The Forêt Brière is an essential part of the ecological corridor linking forests in Quebec and Vermont. Its protection builds on conservation initiatives undertaken over the past 30 years on both sides of the border, as well as contributing to international commitments to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030.
A KEY LOCATION FOR ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY
The area is home to remarkable biodiversity, with over 250 species of flora and numerous at-risk species of fauna, including spring salamander and several threatened bats. The area’s habitats are extremely diverse. By protecting this strategic site, we are preserving one of the ecoregion’s most precious ecosystems, as well as the water quality of the Missisquoi River watershed. It includes forests, aquatic and wetland environments. The property, located in the Brock and Brûlé Mountains sector, is recognized for its importance to large-ranging mammals such as black bear, moose, bobcat and fisher.
Several plant species worthy of conservation have been found there, including the butternut tree, considered endangered in Canada. Among the 53 bird species that have been spotted are the Eastern Woodpecker, Wood Thrush and Canada Warbler, all three at risk in Canada. There are also numerous bats, including the little brown and the tricolored bat, which are endangered in Canada. The property’s streams provide highquality habitat for three species of stream salamander, including the spring (or purple) salamander, an endangered species requiring clear, cold, well-oxygenated water.
Because the Forêt Brière is part of a key ecological corridor, it plays a vital role in linking the region’s natural habitats. This exceptionally biodiverse area – part of the globally significant Appalachian ecoregion where the Green Mountains and Forêt Brière are located – is known for playing a critical role in climate change adaptation. In fact, it includes some of the largest remaining tracts of temperate hardwood forest in the world.
A MODEL OF CONSERVATION COLLABORATION
Protecting the Forêt Brière is a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration between conservation organizations, governments, private stakeholders, and engaged citizens.
Appalachian Corridor and the Nature Conservancy of Canada would like to express their sincere thanks to the key donors whose support made this project possible: the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) through the Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) initiative (2023–2028), and the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for its funding through the Canada Nature Fund, and the Nature Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund.
We’re grateful for the support of private foundations and businesses, including the Echo Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Wildlands Network, the Beaulieu-Saucier Foundation, and the Toboggan & Co Foundation. We also wish to acknowledge the generosity of our anonymous donors. This achievement not only safeguards a vital natural area but also paves the way for future efforts to protect critical habitats in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
QUOTES
“Canadian forests play a key role in the world’s biodiversity and in our own communities, as well as being an essential pillar of reducing greenhouse gases. The protection of the Brière forest is the result of a major undertaking and demonstrates the people of the region’s deep attachment to nature. I would like to recognize Mr. Guy Brière’s commitment—he is leaving an invaluable legacy to future generations—as well as recognizing the hard work and collaborative efforts of Appalachian Corridor and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. By protecting these natural environments, we are sowing the seeds of a greener future—a future that preserves our natural heritage while creating significant economic benefits.”
– The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“The Forêt Brière is an essential part of an ecological corridor that plays a key role in connecting the region’s habitats and in maintaining the water quality of the Missisquoi River. This natural corridor is located in the Appalachian ecoregion, which also includes the Northern Green Mountains, home to the largest remaining expanses of temperate hardwood forests in the world. The area is recognized worldwide for its biodiversity and its importance in helping plant and animal species adapt to climate change.”
– Marie-José Auclair, President of the Appalachian Corridor Board of Directors
“The entire Appalachian Corridor team is proud to have played a role in protecting the Forêt Brière. This project brought together the dedication, expertise, and passion of our conservation professionals, who worked tirelessly and showed great ingenuity in finding ways to make this vision reality. It’s a double win: both for nature, and for the generations yet to come.”
– Caroline Bisson, Co-General Manager of Appalachian Corridor
“Protecting the Forêt Brière is a significant milestone for conservation in Quebec and sets a powerful example beyond our borders. This achievement highlights what we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal: namely, preserving the natural environments that are so important for biodiversity and climate resilience. We are proud to have played a role in turning this dream into reality and in safeguarding this remarkable ecosystem for future generations.”
– Claire Ducharme, Vice-President, Quebec Region, Nature Conservancy of Canada
ABOUT US
Appalachian Corridor is a non-profit conservation organization at work since 2002 in the Northern Green Mountains, a segment of the Appalachians in southern Quebec. Its mission is to bolster a vast corridor of protected areas as a lasting natural heritage. In response to the twin climate and biodiversity crises, Appalachian Corridor, with the support of its conservation partners, deploys a conservation strategy that, to date, led to the protection of more than 19,981 hectares of areas of high ecological value. Visit appalachiancorridor.ca
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. In Quebec, NCC partners regularly with Conservation de la nature Québec, a non-profit organization that is distinct from NCC, to conserve Quebec’s richest natural areas. Together, the two organizations have conserved more than 55,000 hectares of natural areas in the province.
The Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project is a co-funding agreement between the gouvernement du Québec and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), benefiting Quebec conservation organizations. The project aims to protect and conserve natural habitats of ecological interest, notably through the acquisition of private land, for protected and conserved areas and the establishment of ecological corridors. Through this, the ACSQ will promote the development and sound management of the network of protected areas on private land, as well as public access to nature. The funds invested by the gouvernement du Québec over five years must be matched by NCC and its partners with other funds not provided by the gouvernement du Québec.
The Canadian Nature Fund helps protect Canada’s biodiversity through the creation of protected and conservation areas, and through initiatives that contribute to the recovery of species at risk. The Fund is open to not-for-profit and aboriginal organizations, provinces, territories and other stakeholders. For more information: Fonds de la nature du Canada – Canada.ca
The Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique partnership that supports the creation and recognition of protected and conserved areas through the acquisition of private land and private interest in land. To date, the Government of Canada has invested more than $470 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $982 million in contributions raised by Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the country’s land trust community leading to the protection and conservation of more than 800,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.