Les Amis de la montagne Launches its Conservation Plan for Mount Royal Alongside Those for the Other Monteregian Hills

April 06 2023

Montreal, April 4, 2023 - Les Amis de la montagne is proud to launch its Conservation Plan for Mount Royal’s Natural Habitats and Green Space, which is the fruit of an extensive scientific analysis undertaken with the Coalition des Montérégiennes. The members of the Coalition met in Montérégie today to launch their respective plans, along with a comprehensive regional conservation and connectivity plan for the Monteregian Hills, all of which are located in the region that is home to half the population of Quebec.

In a large-scale exercise based on recognized scientific standards, Les Amis identified the pressures affecting Mount Royal’s natural habitats and green spaces, as well as the actions that must be taken to preserve them. Our five-year plan sets out 62 actions, along with their associated costs and performance indicators. Implementing the plan will require an estimated budget of $3 million.

The plan’s objective is to rally the mountain’s stakeholders and municipal authorities around the implementation of concrete actions to promote the protection and connectivity of the unique, natural and historical heritage site that is Mount Royal, with the support of both governments. This is the first major step in a coordinated, iterative approach designed to reverse the trend towards degradation of the mountain’s natural habitats and green spaces.

“This plan is a concrete, mobilizing tool that will contribute to the protection and enhancement of the mountain’s rich fragility. Now more than ever, the ecological resilience and especially, the connectivity of Mount Royal’s woodlands will depend on the efforts of all stakeholders in the years to come,” said Hélène Panaïoti, Executive Director, Les Amis de la montagne.

The City of Montreal, Mount Royal’s institutions and the general public are invited to join the environmental conservation effort

It is Les Amis de la montagne’s hope that the Conservation Plan for Mount Royal’s Natural Habitats and Green Space will help strengthen the ability of its partners and civil society to take collective action across the mountain’s vast territory. To this end, the plan calls for mobilization and consultation actions that will encourage the pooling of resources and informed decision-making. Through several concrete initiatives, it also aims to increase the capacity for action of the volunteer community that has actively worked with Les Amis for over 35 years to enhance the quality of our natural habitats and green spaces.

A Coordinated, unifying approach

The other 11 members of the Coalition des Montérégiennes committed to participating in this exercise which, in addition to Mount Royal, encompasses mounts Saint-Bruno, Saint-Hilaire, Rougemont, Saint-Grégoire, Yamaska, Shefford, Brome and Mégantic, as well as the Oka Mountains and Mont Rigaud. Together they stand out by the high ecological value of their vast woodlands, which are among the last large forests in Southern Québec.

Ultimately, the process mobilized the efforts of certain stakeholders such as municipalities, RCMs, sectoral bodies and individuals. The pressures being felt throughout the territory concerned include increased visitorship and urban development, as well as the effects of climate change, which are already becoming apparent in a number of ways.

“On behalf of the Coalition des Montérégiennes, I am proud to share with our partners and the general public the hard work done over the last few months to promote the protection of some of Quebec’s most precious natural treasures: the Monteregian Hills. By working together to meet common objectives and implement joint action plans, we will ensure that the Monteregian Hills remain natural spaces of exceptional quality for generations to come” added Sylvie Guilbault, Coalition des Montérégiennes Leader and former Executive Director of Les Amis de la montagne.

Conservation groups estimate the budget required to protect, restore and enhance the connectivity of the Monteregian Hills at $150 million. Municipalities and governments will have act quickly, not only to provide financial support for implementation of the measures set out in the Plan régional de conservation et de connectivité des collines Montérégiennes, but also to adjust all relevant regulatory and monitoring tools to ensure that the plan’s objectives can be met.

About Les Amis de la montagne

Founded in 1986, Les Amis de la montagne is a non-profit organization with the mission to protect and enhance Mount Royal through advocacy, community involvement, environmental education and stewardship. Through our actions, we aim to promote informed decision-making in regard to Mount Royal’s ongoing sustainability and ensure that the protection of every aspect of the mountain is at the centre of discussions surrounding urban development in Montreal.

About the Coalition des Montérégiennes

The mission of the Coalition des Montérégiennes is to protect and promote recognition of the Monteregian Hills and their connectivity corridors, not only for their intrinsic conservation value, but also for the ecological services they provide and their role as centres of attraction. The Coalition’s 250-km territory covers a total area of 325,748 ha and includes 33 municipalities, 9 RCMs and the two large agglomerations of Montreal and Longueuil.

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Acknowledgments

This project was carried out as part of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Partenariat pour les milieux naturels project, for which the NCC received a $53-million contribution from the Government of Quebec.