Launched in 2016, the ALUS Montérégie program is a partnership between ALUS and the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie, a branch of the provincial farmer’s union headquartered in the South Shore region of Montreal.

The program covers 70 municipalities in the 14 regional county municipalities (RCM), including several watersheds: the Huron, Hazen-Bleury, de la Barbotte, Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Yamaska.

The program is coordinated by the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie’s agri-environmental agents, with the support of a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of producers, agricultural stakeholders and environmental organizations.

ALUS Montérégie now has 160 participants, managing and maintaining ALUS projects on more than 353 acres, the equivalent of 224 football fields.  Specifically, 400 km of various hedges (windbreaks, herbaceous and multi-strata) were planted; the equivalent of 20 times the size of the Bell Centre of wasteland or ponds were reforested; 275 km of herbaceous riparian strips were installed to encourage pollinators; 20 acres were delayed haying ; and the equivalent of 68 Olympic swimming pools were transformed into flowering meadows for the pollinators.

Working together with local partners, ALUS is making concrete improvements to water quality, biodiversity, habitat for pollinators and wildlife, as well as developing a more harmonious coexistence between agriculture and the environment.

The ALUS Montérégie team has done a stellar job developing the first ALUS program in Quebec. A special mention to the first PAC Chair and former President of the Federation de l’UPA de la Montérégie , Christian Saint Jacques, who  is still a passionnate ALUS ambassador.