To the rescue of the Mingan Thistle

Discovered in 1924 by Brother Marie-Victorin, the Mingan Thistle (Cirsium scariosum var. scariosum) is a threatened species in Quebec. In Canada, it is only found in the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, and in a limited area at the southern tip of Alberta and British Columbia. Approximately, 3500 km separates these two populations.

This species, which grows on the high coastline of the islands, faces many challenges such as storms, forest growth, and low reproductive rate. Following a drastic 70% drop in the number of individuals in the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve between 2011 and 2017, a restoration program was set up to save the species. It represents a team effort; several organizations are contributing to this project.