Cherry River protected marshland expands

The Cherry River Marshland Association (LAMRAC) has announced an expansion of its protected natural environment area of 29.7 hectares to bring the total area to 182.5 hectares (about 2 square kilometers).

An amendment to the zoning by-law of the Town of Magog has allowed this change to bring the protected territory to more than half that of New York’s Central Park (300 hectares)

In a press release, LAMRAC greeted what it described as ‘excellent’ news for the marsh and the people of Magog, "given that we know that wetlands are among the most destroyed or degraded ecosystems on the planet".

"Human pressures have historically created an unprecedented impact on these extremely fragile environments, whether through drainage, backfilling or peat mining, urban expansion, road infrastructure development, pollution and contamination,” the release says..”these environments, which have long been considered unnecessary and of no interest, are now widely recognized as essential ecosystems to be protected."

These ecosystems to be preserved play an important role in filtering water, regulating natural phenomena, as well serving as producers of natural and wildlife resources.

In 2014, the Town of Magog conducted a study to validate the boundaries of the wetland and flood zones. As a result of this characterization, Zoning By-law 2368-2010 has been amended. This means that any residential, commercial or industrial development must be carried out outside the new boundaries.