Big playground for a small carnivore
Gaspé, QC (February 17, 2026) — The American marten, a small, agile and elusive carnivore, slips silently between the trees in a forest. In Quebec, populations of this inconspicuous mammal are threatened by habitat fragmentation. In the Gaspé Peninsula, Route 197 is a real obstacle, restricting the movement of individuals between the interior and exterior of Forillon National Park. The road isolates martens, which are generally reluctant to cross large open spaces. To counter this threat, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), in partnership with Parks Canada, is implementing innovative solutions to protect this emblematic species of Gaspesian wildlife.
A road redesigned for wildlife
A project to redevelop the approaches to Route 197 was launched with a clear objective: to improve wildlife permeability for key species such as the American marten. This refers to the capacity of infrastructure to allow animal crossings, facilitating their movements between natural environments.
The American marten is an umbrella species: by adapting infrastructures to its needs, we help many other species that share the same needs, such as red fox, ermine and groundhog.
Safe crossings
In 2022, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD) installed its first wildlife crossing platform in the area: a platform fixed inside the culvert, above the water level. This platform allows small land animals to cross safely, even in the presence of water.
In April 2024, a working committee comprised of members of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, MTMD, Forillon National Park, Ville de Gaspé and NCC identified solutions to facilitate wildlife movement. Whether in the form of a ramp, barrier, or planting, they facilitate the entry and exit of animals from the culvert. They guide species toward the passage in a natural way and improve accessibility.
As early as spring 2024, all culverts on Route 197 were evaluated for their wildlife crossing potential. This resulted in a selection of culverts that are favourable for the implementation of wildlife management measures. A dozen cameras were also installed on culverts already fitted and those to be fitted to document wildlife use before and after the work. To efficiently process the volume of images generated, artificial intelligence tools were also used.
In the spring of 2026, two new shelves will be ready for deployment in culverts, along with landscaping interventions around some to make the approach more inviting for wildlife. In total, four culverts will be developed to allow small and medium-sized species to pass along Route 197.
A natural corridor to link Forillon to the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula
Since 2022, NCC, in collaboration with Parks Canada, has protected an additional 80 hectares that consolidates the natural environments already conserved in the Forillon corridor, focusing on portions of land on either side of Route 197. Together, these environments form an essential ecological corridor for many species.
This corridor is the only terrestrial link that prevents the isolation of Forillon National Park from the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula. Wildlife can now move more freely between the environments they need to survive.
Acknowledgements
The Nature Conservancy of Canada would like to thank its partners for their contributions to this project: Parks Canada through the National Program for Ecological Corridors, and the gouvernement du Québec through the Projet de partenariat pour les milieux naturels (PPMN) and the Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project.
Quotes
“This project is a testament to the efficiency of a concerted approach to conservation. By working closely with Parks Canada and the working committee, we were able to integrate ecological data, management priorities and field knowledge to design appropriate wildlife developments. As a result, ecological connectivity around Forillon National Park will be stronger and will maximize the benefits for regional biodiversity.” – Olivier Perrotte Caron, Project Manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“Nature is an integral part of our identity as Canadians, and protecting it requires teamwork and concrete action. This project in and around Forillon National Park is a great example of what’s possible when we work together: it restores the connection between natural environments, it supports the survival of sensitive species and it strengthens the resilience of the ecosystem. Thank you to the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, local partners and teams from Nature Conservancy of Canada and Parks Canada for their work on this important project.” – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
“In the Gaspé Peninsula, Parks Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada are demonstrating that targeted actions can have a major impact on nature. This project reconnects essential habitats around Forillon National Park, promoting the protection of species such as the American marten and safer travel for wildlife. It is part of a Canada-wide effort to create sustainable ecological corridors and leave future generations with a more vibrant and better-protected environment.” – The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
About
Parks Canada manages the National Program for Ecological Corridors, which promotes sustaining and restoring ecological connectivity in key areas across the country. The program supports initiatives led by partners to create links between protected areas and surrounding natural environments, for the benefit of biodiversity. In the Gaspé Peninsula, a $2 million investment supports Nature Conservancy of Canada’s efforts to reconnect habitats on both sides of Route 197, an essential land link for wildlife in Forillon National Park. To date, the program has supported 27 ecological corridor projects across the country led by Indigenous partners, environmental organizations and provincial governments, with total funding of $27.4 million.
The Projet de partenariat pour les milieux naturels (PPMN) is a grant of more than $53 million from the gouvernement du Québec to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The PPMN, which ended in 2023, enabled the establishment of financial partnerships with conservation organizations in the province, support for voluntary conservation initiatives to protect natural environments of interest, and the consolidation of Quebec’s network of protected areas located on private land.
The Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project is a co-funding agreement between the gouvernement du Québec and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), benefiting Quebec conservation organizations. The project aims to protect and conserve natural habitats of ecological interest, notably through the acquisition of private land, for protected and conserved areas and the establishment of ecological corridors. Through this, the ACSQ will promote the development and sound management of the network of protected areas on private land, as well as public access to nature. The funds invested by the gouvernement du Québec over five years must be matched by NCC and its partners with other funds not provided by the gouvernement du Québec.
NCC launched the Quebec Ecological Corridors Initiative (QECI) in 2017 to accelerate the conservation of natural areas connected by ecological corridors. The initiative is coordinated by NCC, led by 10 organizations and is supported by over 100 experts and stakeholders offering a collective approach to land use planning in southern Quebec.
Contact
Gabrielle Goyette
Communications and marketing coordinator, Quebec Region
Nature Conservancy of Canada
gabrielle.goyette@conservationdelanature.ca
514-461-4154