About the Restigouche

The Restigouche - Land of misty mountains, sparkling wild rivers and majestic forests. Where wild Atlantic salmon still leap over deep, dark pools. Where elusive Canada lynx roam. An internationally-renowned paradise for anglers, paddlers, hikers and tourists.

Our Goal – To protect the wildest parts of Restigouche from industrial development – 100,000 hectares forever wild!

Important for people | Important for wildlife | What's at risk | Learn more

A special place

Click the map to view a larger version.

Wild rivers, mountains and forests of the Restigouche River Watershed cover over 1 million hectares of northern New Brunswick and the southern Gaspé region of Quebec.
Recognized by international Two Countries, One Forest network as one of 5 critical ecological linkages in the northern New England/southern Quebec/ Maritimes region
A Canadian Heritage River, flowing into one of the ‘Most Beautiful Bays in the World” (Bay of Chaleur)

Important for people

A world-class destination for ecotourism, outdoor adventures, and angling, with plenty of economic tourism potential yet untapped
Part of the traditional territory of the Gespe’gewa’gi Mi’gmaw, who have an interest in conserving Restigouche’s resources and cultural heritage
Many Restigouche communities are supported by canoeing, hunting, trapping and angling, with a deep attachment to the land, sea and rivers - angling alone is worth at least $20 million and hundreds of jobs to the region
Forestry on public land is an important part of the region’s economy - increased conservation and ecologically-responsible forest management will help us sell forest products to an increasingly environmentally conscious marketplace

Important for wildlife

Moose, black bears, American marten, fisher, bald eagles, barred owls, scarlet tanagers and numerous interior forest birds thrive amidst forest-covered hills, deep gorges and some of the most pristine rivers and streams in Eastern Canada.
Atlantic salmon - The Restigouche River and its tributaries support one of the most productive wild Atlantic salmon populations, with some of the largest salmon, in eastern Canada.
Canada lynx – Restigouche natural areas are home to critical populations of Canada lynx - the area provides a natural corridor for lynx to disperse for feeding and breeding between the Gaspé and northern Maine.

What's at risk

Less than 1% of the watershed in New Brunswick is protected from development, leaving most areas open for mining, logging or new development proposals. Forest management plans show that most uncut areas of the Restigouche will be logged within 10 years.

Take action to keep the Restigouche wild!