In 2000, there was only one large protected area in the region, Mount Orford National Park (58.4 km2). Over a fifteen year period, various regional conservation organizations and local land trusts had succeeded in protecting approximately 400 hectares (1000 acres) of territory, including the Ruiter Valley Ecological Reserve.

Since the creation of ACA

The global conservation strategy proposed implemented by ACA has considerably accelerated the process of protecting natural areas. The results of the past years are testimony to the promising future of this ambitious initiative. Since the beginning of the Appalachian Corridor conservation project, the size of the area protected in perpetuity has grown to more than 7 000 hectares (almost 17,000 acres). Thanks to the acquisition of the Domtar property, almost two-thirds of the Sutton Mountains massif, or 60 km², are now protected in perpetuity, representing the largest private protected area in Quebec.

Click on map to see protected areas on ACA territory