Readers and visitors undoubtedly associate our Conservation team with awareness raising about Mount Royal’s ecosystems and forest regeneration through trail closures and tree planting. However, behind the scenes, the team is conducting important research projects to better understand and measure the mountain’s ecological integrity. Les Amis’ Head of Conservation Services, Antonin St-Jean, tells us more.
Photo : Pascale Bélanger Lavallée
Readers and visitors undoubtedly associate our Conservation team with awareness raising about Mount Royal’s ecosystems and forest regeneration through trail closures and tree planting. However, behind the scenes, the team is conducting important research projects to better understand and measure the mountain’s ecological integrity. Les Amis’ Head of Conservation Services, Antonin St-Jean, tells us more.
In 2022, our team gathered existing research and began field testing certain ecosystemic elements, which included assessing the canopy’s integrity through satellite imagery and conducting acoustic analyses in different sectors of the mountain. The analyses allowed us to inventory bird populations and record the ultrasounds emitted by various species of bats. The team was thus able to identify key indicators and components that will help us evaluate the integrity of Mount Royal’s ecosystems. Here are two examples of the research work being done:*
Bird Species Within a Forest Environment
To better understand the positive impacts of Les Amis’ Environmental Stewardship Program on forest fragmentation and volunteer engagement, we designated a heavily buckthorn-invaded zone as a long-term study area. Throughout the coming years, we’ll be able to observe the impact of removing invasive species and reestablishing indigenous ones on functional biodiversity, such as bird communities. We also established acoustic inventory routes so that we can monitor the presence of owls during their breeding season.
Water Quality in Wetlands
Since 2005, Les Amis have also been conducting a weekly follow-up of the mountain’s marsh water level. Last year, we added a water quality monitoring program that measures factors such as pH levels and temperature. This data is essential to better understand the habitat’s suitability for various animal species that live there, such as the salamander.
All this will, we hope, drive direct action towards a more ecologically robust Mount Royal. Its 423 hectares of woodlands and greenspace are undergoing rapid degradation that threatens the sustainable future of the mountain we love. This is why Les Amis de la montagne is deeply committed to reversing this trend through its programs, actions, advocacy and collaboration with stakeholders. We can’t accomplish this without the public’s help, starting with keeping to the main trail, Olmsted Path, until the City has completed its post-ice storm cleanup.
Find out more about the impact of the storm here:
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Interview: Many Mount Royal trails remain closed for ice storm cleanup | Daybreak, CBC, May 17
Daybreak's Ainslie MacLellan takes a walk on the mountain with Antonin St-Jean, head of conservation for Les Amis de la montagne.
*This research is generously supported by HSBC Canada.
