A black bear cub is shown in Forillon National Park in Quebec/Parcs Canada, Parks Canada
Forillon National Park has a new management plan for the first time since 2010.
The park — on the northeastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula — was established in June 1970 and was Quebec’s first national park. At the request of Parks Canada, the area was expropriated by the province of Quebec and then transferred to the federal government for a period of 99 years to create a national park.
“Some 225 families had to leave their properties and close to 1,200 landowners lost their lumber lots and parts of their cultivated land,” the plan notes.
The plan outlines the four key objectives:
• “A vision to achieve together” means Parks Canada will collaborate with local communities and partners, especially the Micmac Nation of Gespeg.
• “An evolving and healthy natural environment” means conserving the ecological integrity of the park’s ecosystems is a top priority.
• “A unique cultural heritage to be protected and highlighted” means the occupation of the area before the park was created “remains evident and has an important heritage value.”
• “A destination of choice because of its rich natural and cultural assets” means the park will continue to work on “the creation of memorable moments throughout the four seasons.”
Ninety-five per cent of Forillon National Park is forest/Parcs Canada, Parks Canada
Two areas — Grande-Grave and Cap-Bon-Ami — have unique challenges and were given a targeted management approach.
Grande-Grave is named after a former community that was established before the park was created. It’s a designated heritage site and has 17 heritage buildings, as well as archaeological remains and landscapes that reflect prior occupations. It is home to a sunrise concert and a traditional Mi’gmaq celebration. Many of the buildings show “undeniable signs of advanced deterioration” and need to be restored.
Cap-Bon-Ami has a maritime feel with towering cliffs and viewpoints, and is popular for birding and marine wildlife observation. But it must contend with major erosion due to climate change.
Forillon safeguards an area of 244.8 square kilometres (94 square miles), including a marine strip more than 150 metres (490 feet) wide (for 4.4 square kilometres or 1.7 square miles). Ninety-five per cent of the park is covered in forest.
The park is unique because it boasts many cultural resources testifying to the past and present occupation of the territory by the Mi’gmaq, as well as its commercial fishing activities until the middle of the 20th century. Several constructions that served the families of fishermen and farmers established in the peninsula prior to the park’s creation still exist today and add a heritage component to the experience offered to the park visitors.
Forillon’s distinctive coastal landscape, hiking trails and campgrounds are increasingly popular as evidenced by the marked increase in the number of visitors since 2013. In 2019-2020, nearly 170,000 visitors came to the park. Nearly 60 per cent of the visitors were from Canada, 3 per cent from the United States and 37 per cent from other countries (mainly France).
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