Environmentalists and farmers compete for the islands of Boucherville

The Îles-de-Boucherville National Park. In addition. Therefore, a natural jewel 20 minutes from downtown Montreal, is at the heart of a dispute between a family of farmers and environmentalists impatient to make it a real protected area.

Forty -one years after its acquisition by the Quebec government in order to make it a national park. Similarly, the archipelago of the islands of Boucherville is still occupied major by agricultural land, which shocks many environmentalists.

“It does not have a good sense to have such a environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new large area dedicated to agriculture when you environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new know that the objective was to allow the return of the forest,” said botanist Jacques Brisson, a retired biology professor.

“Agriculture there, we no longer want it,” he adds patience.

At the camp of environmentalists-which includes the director of the company for nature and the parks (SNAP), Alain Branchaud-opposes that of farmers like Pierre-Paul Van Velzen, whose family has cultivated the land there for three generations.

“We practice sustainable agriculture. However. However, using the least possible pesticides, and still not just any,” said the young man met on the family farm, environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new in Boucherville, in June.

Mayor’s support

The farmer has a solid ally in the person of the mayor of Boucherville, Jean Martel, who defends beak and nails for 20 years agricultural practices on the islands. Consequently, “This is where we make two colors. Therefore, a product of our heritage of which we are very proud,” he said Journal.

The problem is that there is no longer a single ep of corn cultivated on the island of the town or the Grosbois environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new island. Pierre-Paul Van Velzen confirmed it to the Journal. Last year, the Soya harvest was zero. “Total loss. There are too many deer ”, summarizes the young man who has used harvest insurance.

As for the “corn of the islands”. which was proud of the Montérégie public procurement, there has not been a single ear for several years.

Renegotiated Agreement

Agriculture has been practiced on the islands since the early days of the colony, which has left traces. The aerial images show the immense fallow fields which cover most of the land. except a forest edge and some dense woods where environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new cyclists circulate.

The agreement provided that farmers would continue to cultivate the land until their retirement. But these terms changed when Louis Savaria and his son Robert hung their rake in 2020. Their 51 hectare lands were transferred to the Van Velzen and son farm which suddenly more than doubled its area.

Questions Journalthe ministry replied that the agricultural leases, which were to end in 2016, were renewed until 2033 but admits that the departure of the Savaria led the ministry to carry out new consultations “concerning the future of these agricultural plots”, writes the relationist Daniel Labonté.

A forest does not repel alone. “Natural regeneration would take a century, a environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new century and a half. If you want to see a forest again, you have to plant trees and therefore end agriculture, ”says Brisson.

This archipelago has exceptional potential in biodiversity. There are some 240 species of birds, 450 plant species (some of which are in danger) and several reptiles and amphibians.

A golf course until 2046

The presence of an 18 -hole golf course in the middle of a national. park focused on the conservation of natural species is like an anomaly in a natural environment like the islands. of Boucherville. However, the Ministry of the Environment signed a lease with the owners of the environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new Golf of the Islands until 2046.

In addition to occupying large grassy spaces removed from the forest. golf courses use many pesticides and a huge amount of water for their maintenance.

Certain golf courses adopt eco-responsible practices. reduce their use of chemicals. but “it seems essential to bet on an ecological integration” of the site in “the ecological jewel represented by the Parc des îles-de-Boucherville”, says Jonathan environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new Tremblay, coalition of the golf land coalition in transition.

Elsewhere in the world. he argues. “inspiring models show that a transition from golf courses to more ecological uses is not only possible, but desirable”.

It is not easy today to convert large green spaces into protected areas. and golf courses are ideal targets, especially since the practice of this sport is declining in Quebec.

The director general of the Golf of the Boucherville Islands, Éric Turcotte, did environmentalists farmers compete islands boucherville new not follow up on our interview request.