Conservation organizations acquire 14 hectares of land in East Bolton

The non-profit conservation organization Appalachian Corridor and its partners have had an exceptional year in terms of land acquisition for the protection of natural areas.

In June, Appalachian Corridor acquired 215 hectares of land that encompasses most of Mont Foster, which has now been established as a protected land in perpetuity. This conservation project includes 3.5 km of trails and a scout tower that will be open to the public in summer 2021.

In July, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, an organization closely linked with Appalachian Corridor, was able to ensure the protection of another 100 hectares of land in the Sutton Mountains which was a donation by the Kreig family. A property adjacent to what is now called the Green Mountains – August and Linda Krieg family section, was also acquired at this time by the Au Diable Vert outdoor centre in Sutton which consolidates a network of walking trails that cross both protected properties.

In total the 2019-2020 annual report of the organization announced that 699 hectares of now perpetually protected natural territories were added to its territory of action.

Since this general meeting, another area of land has been taken into the protection of local conservation organizations.

On Nov. 18 it was announced that a collaborative effort between Appalachian Corridor and Conservation des vallons de la Serpentine (CVS) had secured another nearly 14 hectares of land in East Bolton. CVS is an organization that possesses and acquires vulnerable territories, including aquatic habitats, to turn them nature reserves. Presently, CVS oversees 361 hectares of protected land in the region.

The land in East Bolton was donated by the Nitoslawski-romer family who have lived there for more than five decades.

The property has immense ecological value as it is located in the Mont Chagnon massif and has wetlands and bodies of water that house many amphibians and reptiles. It is prime habitat for wood tortoises, which are designated as vulnerable in Quebec and marsh frogs, a species that is expected to soon be designated as vulnerable.

There are also at least 32 species of birds on the property, nine of which are considered priority species by the Canadian Wildlife Service. This includes the Canada warbler, an endangered species in this country.

“The donation of this land for perpetual conservation is a great gift to offer our family, the community and future generations” said Mrs. Thérèse Romer. She acquired the land in 1960 with her husband. Their five children are now the heirs of the property and decided to donate it.

“We are happy to know that our donation will have a significant and immediate impact on these species and will contribute to the consolidation of an ecological corridor in the region” explained Marek Nitoslawski, one of the Nitoslawski-romer family sons.

Mélanie Leliève, Executive Director for Appalachian Corridor is very appreciative of the family and explained that this acquisition complements their huge conservation initiative that spans from southern Vermont to north of Mont Orford.

“In the Quebec portion of the Green Mountains, 14, 559 hectares are now protected forever,” she added.

She hopes that the NitoslawskiRomer family’s donation will inspire others to do the same and help protect the region’s natural beauty and diversity.