A Historic Acquisition for Fiducie foncière du mont Pinacle: the Hauts-Ruisseaux Protected Area
Frelighsburg, April 21, 2026 — Fiducie foncière du mont Pinacle (FFMP) and Appalachian Corridor are proud to announce that they have acquired, for the purpose of conserving the natural areas in perpetuity, a woodland of 49.75 hectares (122.93 acres) in the non-agricultural zone on the northern slope of Mount Pinacle in Frelighsburg, Estrie.
The acquisition of this new property, which is in a core habitat area, marks an important step in protecting this emblematic massif. Known to have significant ecological value, the land is next to a conservation easement entrusted to the FFMP and is in the immediate vicinity of the Fund’s mainland. This configuration strengthens the natural connectivity that is vital to the health of ecosystems. The property contains a variety of habitats representative of the Appalachian Mountains: deciduous and mixed forests, permanent and intermittent streams, wetlands, swamps and shrubland. These typical Appalachian ecosystems are home to several plant and wildlife species deemed in a precarious situation.
The property is in the heart of an area identified as a conservation priority by both the conservation plan for the Northern Green Mountains natural area (Nature Conservancy of Canada, 2019) and the strategy for prioritizing conservation actions in the FFMP’s territory of action (Appalachian Corridor, 2022). This acquisition, described as historic, was made possible with the support of Appalachian Corridor, of which the FFMP is an affiliate member. It is noteworthy that, from 1988 to 1994, the land was the focus of a vast recreational tourism project, which would have included a residential development around a private ski resort and golf club. This project deeply divided the local community, and this led to the FFMP’s creation.
“A permanent stream, a tributary of the Blanc Stream, as well as several intermittent streams cross the property and shape highly biologically diverse habitats. Their noteworthy presence inspired us to name this property Aire protégé des Hauts-Ruisseaux.” Said Frédéric Senez, President of the FFMP
“Adding to Mount Pinacle’s network of protected areas captures the essence of our vision for Quebec: a place where nature is respected, valued and made accessible to everyone. This concrete initiative is helping protect ecosystems of great environmental value while giving citizens special access to quality natural areas. It demonstrates our desire to act responsibly to conserve our natural heritage and pass it on to the next generations. Protecting these areas is a collective responsibility, and I applaud the commitment of all the partners who are making this project possible and who are involved in safeguarding and highlighting one of our greatest riches.”
—Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks; and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure
“This acquisition marks a decisive step toward protecting a vital wooded area on Mont Pinacle, where the connectivity and integrity of natural habitats are closely linked to the preservation of biodiversity. Carried out in collaboration with dedicated local partners, this project illustrates the impact of collective action in conservation. Nature-Action Québec is proud to have contributed to this effort through its financial support for Appalachian Corridor and its affiliate member.”
— Romy Bazo, Director of Conservation at NAQ
“The establishment of protected areas in our region is part of a broader effort to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecological connectivity. The implementation of this project strengthens ecological resilience and highlights the essential role of collaboration in the conservation = of natural habitats.” said Caroline Bisson, Executive Director of Appalachian Corridor.
This acquisition was made possible through financial support from several government and private partners, including the Accelerating Conservation in Southern Quebec (ACSQ) project, co-funded by the Government of Quebec and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, as well as the Canada Nature Fund, through a contribution from Environment and Climate Change Canada to Nature-Action Québec. Additional funding was provided by the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant Program, with financial assistance from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and by a local private foundation.
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A non-profit conservation organization, Appalachian Corridor has been working since 2002 to protect the Northern Green Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain chain that extends into southern Quebec. Its mission is to conserve adjacent tracts of land to create a vast, natural area that will be protected in perpetuity. In response to the dual crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss, Appalachian Corridor works with its conservation partners to implement a conservation strategy that, to date, has protected 20,415 hectares of ecologically valuable land. For more information visit: corridorappalachien.ca/en
The Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project is a co-funding agreement between the gouvernement du Quebec 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 lands, to create protected and conserved areas and to establish ecological corridors. The ACSQ promotes the development and sound management of a network of protected areas on private lands, as well as public access to nature. The gouvernement of Quebec’s investment over five years must be matched by funding from non-governmental sources, to be matched by NCC and its partners with other funds not provided by the gouvernement du Quebec.
The Canada Nature Fund supports the protection of Canada’s biodiversity through the creation of protected and conserved areas and through initiatives that help to recover species at risk. The Fund is available to not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations, to provinces and territories and to others. To learn more, visit: Canada Nature Fund – Canada.ca.
Nature-Action Québec, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to guiding individuals and organizations in the implementation of best environmental practices. For 40 years, the organization has been working with municipalities, businesses, community organizations, and citizens to carry out concrete projects that help improve the environment, health, well-being, and quality of life of Quebec’s population. As part of the Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project, Nature-Action Québec manages a matching grant allocated by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
