Terra Nostra Québec has received the 2010 Gold Leaf Award at the latest CCEA Conference, held in Ottawa on November 3-5. This year, the theme was Future Planning for Protected Areas – Responding to Climate Change. This prize was awarded in the ”individuals” category in recognition of civic education initiative in the framework of the International Year of Biodiversity.

In January 2010, six citizens seized the moment to create the Terra Nostra initiative, a photographic project committed to showcasing Québec’s biodiversity, to raising public awareness of its fragility and to promoting the importance of protected areas. This award recognizes the contribution of volunteers who set an example and show us how citizens can contribute to nature conservation and drawing daily inspiration from the natural world that surrounds us.

Mr. Rodolph Balej, Nelson Boisvert, and Eric Le Bel have accepted this award on behalf of the group of six citizens. The award was presented by Mr. David MacKinnon, Chair of the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas.