A group of protesters in western Quebec were told to leave a forest near Gatineau Park and remove their decorations by noon Thursday but the time came and went without conflict.

Quebec's Ministry of Transportation, which owns the land, plans to start clear-cutting Monday and told the group to leave the land by noon Thursday.

Two protesters prepare to defy ministry workers who prepare to start construction of the Highway 5 expansion. (Paul Morisset/CBC)

The ministry said it was prepared to instruct police to forcibly remove protesters from the forest, which is next to Gatineau Park, if they did not leave voluntarily.

But they remained on the land surrounding a tree, which is more than 200 years old.

The protesters, which include the Gatineau Park Protection Committee, first held a sit-in Jan. 5 to argue against a Highway 5 expansion that would cut through 30 hectares of land in Wakefield, Que.

Protesters want to protect two 200-year-old trees

The group fears for two trees that are more than 200 years old trees, which could be chopped down for the road's extension.

The project to expand from two to four lanes is an urgent one, local officials have said, because the current highway is very dangerous.

Many large trucks drive through the winding road and there have been a number of fatal crashes on the highway.

One local councillor added the highway plan has changed over the past few years to limit the impact on surrounding areas.

But protesters believe the National Capital Commission, which cares for Gatineau Park, could still get involved and stop clear-cutting.

They also planned to chain themselves to the trees Saturday.