An Act to amend the Natural Heritage Conservation Act and other provisions (SQ 2021, c 1).

This Act mainly amends the Natural Heritage Conservation Act and does it so by adding and replacing several of its sections. The Act adds an introduction section where it recognises and embraces the principles and objectives of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in line with the implementation responsibilities of the Gouvernment du Qu bec.
Firstly, the Act replaces Section 1, extending the purpose and scope of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (1) to facilitate the expansion of the network of areas covered by conservation measures in Qu bec and the efficient management of protected areas; (2) to allow citizens as well as local and Aboriginal communities to become more involved in the conservation of biodiversity, in particular in the creation and management of protected areas; and (3) to ensure that the various government departments and bodies that assume biodiversity conservation-related responsibilities collaborate in the selection, designation and management of protected areas. To achieve those, the Act adds Section 2 and lays down specific provisions for a new protected area protection status Aboriginal-led protected areas (Division I), establishes new powers and responsibilities for the Minister of the Environment including the administration of a new register compiling information on areas that, while not designated as protected areas, are covered by other effective conservation measures. (Division II), introduces a procedure that allows the Minister setting aside land in the domain of the State in order to establish a protected area (Division III). Moreover, the Act introducing Chapter 2, Conservation Measures, under Division III lists new protected areas protection status, namely, protected area with sustainable use and marine reserve in addition to already recognised biodiversity reserve and ecological reserve ( aquatic reserve is withdraw) and amends the designation process for protected areas. Division IV makes changes to the procedure for recognizing a nature reserve. Division V lays down rules for man-made landscapes and provides that the conservation measure applicable will the form of recognition, it specifies the powers and responsibilities of the regional and local stakeholders, including the Aboriginal communities. Chapter III concerns administrative measures and penal provisions and the Act clarifies existing inspection powers and introduces investigation powers. It clarifies the penal provisions and increases the amounts of fines.
The Act also amends the Sustainable Forest Development Act conferring to the Minister power to designate forests as wetlands of interest as well as the regime of activities applicable on those lands. Lastly, the Act contains consequential amendments to other Acts and regulations.