A bike ride for biodiversity
Imagine sowing native seeds as you pedal through the majestic landscapes of Centre-du-Québec. Every turn of the pedal contributes to a greener, more prosperous future.
Thanks to the work of the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Nicolet-Yamaska, in collaboration with the Lac-Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve (LSPBR), this vision became a reality during the "Petite Aventure.”
Organized by Vélo Québec and with the help of nearly 200 volunteers and employees, the three-day Petite Aventure bicycle tour drew almost 1,500 participants, a third of them children. Designed to accommodate cyclists of all levels, the route covered distances ranging between 50 and 90 km per day. The main event site was in the cycling village of Nicolet, where an array of services and entertainment were available to participants, from inflatable games to conferences, yoga sessions and outdoor shows.
A group of cyclists riding along the road.
But what really caught the cyclists' attention was a special initiative by the LSPBR in partnership with the Tourisme Nicolet-Yamaska kiosk. The Biosphere Reserve provided over 400 bags of native seeds, which were distributed by RCM representatives at the event. In the Petite Aventure community, the idea was born to spread them along the bike routes.
Perfectly suited to the region, these seeds are ideal for this type of broadcast seeding. The bags were quickly distributed and cyclists got in on the fun, taking part in this initiative to beautify the RCM and, at the same time, the LSPBR.
The LSPBR covers an area of 7,394 km2, including the five RCMs bordering Lake Saint-Pierre and the city of Trois-Rivières, and plays a crucial role in regional biodiversity conservation. Not only does it serve as a research centre and model for sustainable practices, it also works to raise awareness in the local community of the importance of preserving its natural and cultural heritage, as was the case during the Petite Aventure.
After the event, the RCM of Nicolet-Yamaska approached the LSPBR to continue distributing seeds for the community and visitors who would like to continue beautifying the territory. LSPBR employees immediately got involved in a pilot project. Seed distribution continued throughout the summer, and interested parties were invited to pick up their bags at the RCM tourist office, donated by the Comité ZIP du lac Saint-Pierre, the LSPBR's representative.
Inspired by this success, the LSPBR is thinking big. Another pilot project is currently under consideration and development, with the aim of extending the concept on a larger scale across the region and involving more employees. The LSPBR is proud that such an initiative has been launched on its territory to help increase the region's biodiversity. That same feeling is now at the heart of an entire community, thanks to the Petite Aventure.
The Government of Canada has supported the Lac-Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve with $585,000 over three years to help restore, maintain, and enhance biodiversity conservation within the biosphere reserve.
This story was written and submitted by the Lac-Saint-Pierre Biosphere Reserve and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association.
UNESCO biosphere reserves reflect Canada's geographic and biological diversity and support national and international environmental and sustainable development goals. Every day, they help inspire people to live sustainably, in harmony with nature.
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