Areas of Prime Concern Committees Riverside communities get involved

The protection of the St. Lawrence is the main concern of the communities that depend on it: 60 percent of the population of Quebec lives along the shores of the St. Lawrence, which supplies 45 percent of their drinking water. By forming Areas of Prime Concern (ZIP: Zone d'intervention prioritaire) committees, these communities can get involved in the protection of the St. Lawrence with the support of the people in charge of the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan, a joint project of the governments of Canada and Québec.

The main objective of ZIP committees is to identify priorities in matters pertaining to protection, restoration, conservation and enhancement of the River’s uses and resources consistent with sustainable development. ZIP committees depend a great deal on local communities to carry out their initiatives. They are therefore responsible for:

  • identifying Areas of Prime Concern for their territories
  • establishing an Ecological Rehabilitation Action Plan (ERAP) to determine what measures need to be taken with respect to priorities identified during the consultation
  • implementing the ERAP that fosters community involvement in concrete projects

ZIP committees are supported by teams from the governments of Canada and Quebec. Here is a list of committees for the maritime portion of the St. Lawrence:

To consult the list of all ZIP committees in Quebec, visit the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 web site.

Other actions