Ecological Restoration
Because we need more than just protection
Launching a new restoration program
In 2025, CPAWS‑OV embarked on a new chapter: the launch of an ecological restoration program, conceived as the natural complement to our long‑standing efforts to protect the region’s remaining large, intact natural areas. For this project, our focus turns toward places closer to our communities—where nature and daily life meet, and where restoration can transform not only ecosystems, but also our collective relationship with the land.
We are targeting sites of high ecological value, places where well‑planned interventions can truly rebuild the integrity of natural habitats, improve essential services such as water purification, and return to local communities vibrant, resilient, and inspiring natural spaces. Restoring a place also means rekindling a sense of belonging, responsibility, and pride. But where do we begin in a watershed as vast and complex as this one?
A land shaped by water
Few people realize that the Ottawa River – the Kichi zibi or great river – shelters some of the most unique ecosystems in Québec: environments that are neither fully terrestrial nor fully aquatic, but an intermediate world of remarkable richness and beauty. The wet forests that line the river’s points and peninsulas, nestled within the floodplain, form true sanctuaries of biodiversity. These wet forests, where terrestrial and aquatic species mingle, provide refuge for exceptional flora and fauna, and are cherished places for hiking, birdwatching, and waterfowl hunting.
Grandes Baies Wildlife Refuge Project
Among these natural treasures, the Grandes Baies Wildlife Refuge Project stands out. Stretching over nearly 29 km² from Gatineau to Thurso, it forms an ecological corridor of major importance. Yet these lands, still in the process of being acquired by the province, also bear the scars of the past: the emerald ash borer has devastated entire stands of trees, and some areas have been heavily altered by historical agricultural or industrial use.
At the heart of our concerns is the black ash, a species now listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This tree plays a vital role in biodiversity, water quality, and the cultural traditions of First Nations, who use it for basketry. Today, black ash is more threatened than ever.
This is why we have already begun ecological inventories in the Grandes Baies sector, in preparation for future shoreline revitalization work – near Rivière Blanche Est (close to Thurso), for example, and along the Petite rivière Blanche in Gatineau. We are also collaborating with specialized organizations, such as the Forest Gene Conservation Association, to assess opportunities for planting black ash trees that show resistance to the emerald ash borer. In Gatineau, Boucher Forest – where we are also conducting work – stands as a stark reminder of the losses already suffered and of the urgency to act before these habitats are overtaken by invasive species such as glossy buckthorn.
Small actions with big impacts
More broadly, our program aims to follow the watershed’s streams and rivers to restore shorelines, work with farmers, and strengthen ecological corridors. Re‑vegetating riverbanks improves water quality, provides continuous habitat for wildlife, and protects aquatic environments from the impacts of climate change – for example, by creating shade that helps maintain water temperatures essential to the survival of native species. We are also exploring tree planting projects along tributaries in the Rocher Fendu area near Beachburg, on the Ontario side, with the goal of transforming these agricultural landscapes into havens of biodiversity.
And this is only the beginning.
We remain open to new approaches, new sites, and new collaborations.
If there is a place in the watershed that matters to you – a degraded public land, a corner of nature that deserves a second life – we invite you to reach out. Together, we can restore vitality and resilience to the ecosystems of the Ottawa Valley.
For further information, contact Andrew, our manager for restoration: agibson@cpaws.org.