The Gap
Overview
The Gap campaign is an effort lead by CPAWS-OV to protect an 18 km stretch of land between Algonquin Park and the Dumoine River Aquatic Reserve. In 2008, thanks to the work of CPAWS-OV, the Government of Quebec established the Dumoine river aquatic reserve, a 1,776 kms² protected area encompassing about 1/3 of the Dumoine River watershed. Now, we are going further to connect the two as one large area managed for biodiversity spanning two provinces.
We envision an 18 km pathway between Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park and Quebec’s Dumoine River Aquatic Reserve to act as a corridor for animals to migrate while supporting climate action.
Advancing climate action in two provinces by protecting a natural migration highway.
Animals depend on this unprotected gap of wilderness to provide safe travels for them and their young during migration season, but it’s at risk of being destroyed due to the dual biodiversity and climate crises. Protecting this region would allow them to migrate safely year after year, helping them avoid extinction so future generations can experience their majestic presence in our communities. Plus, intact forests reduce greenhouse gases and minimize extreme and destructive weather events affecting our communities.
Protecting this vital area for an ecological corridor species at risk can depend on for survival also positions the provinces of Ontario and Quebec as leaders in climate action and Canada’s efforts to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. Currently, less than11% of the province of Ontario is protected and only about 2% of Renfrew County, protecting the Gap will help make progress toward our conservation targets.
Protecting this gap in wilderness would strengthen the Algonquin to Adirondacks Initiative by extending a continentally significant ecological connection running from New York State, through eastern Ontario, into the Boreal Forest of Quebec. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a migratory corridor of this scale in eastern North America and protect species at risk.