Conservation Plan for Mount Royal’s Natural Habitats and Greenspace

Mount Royal’s open and forested areas are among the richest and most varied in terms of biodiversity on the island of Montréal. They provide essential services to the ecosystem, including the production of oxygen, reduction of air pollution and moderation of high temperatures in the summer. Protecting this natural wonder is of utmost importance to everyone who lives in this city.

The Conservation Plan for Mount Royal’s Natural Habitats and Greenspace was unveiled by Les Amis in April 2023. It is designed to be rolled out alongside the City of Montréal’s ecological management plan for Mount Royal Park. Our plan takes into account all of the natural and open spaces that give the mountain its unique landscape. The targeted area, which includes parks, cemeteries, institutional lands and other spaces, spans a total of 4,25 km2 and covers the entire ecological network of the Mount Royal Heritage Site.

The involvement of all institutions tied to the mountain is essential to the success of this plan. Universities, hospitals, cemeteries and other organizations established on the slopes of Mount Royal have the responsibility of managing their sites, with the support of municipal administrators and the mountain’s stewards. Many have already expressed their willingness to collaborate on achieving the Plan’s conservation goals.

Government bodies, on their part, can help us reach our biodiversity and protection goals by intervening on the regulations that apply to the territory. For example, they can influence policies and practices relating to the management of water, snow, green spaces and residual waste, to name a few.

Citizens, of course, also have a role to play in the implementation of our plan. In addition to adopting eco-responsible behaviour to ensure the protection of the mountain’s natural treasures, citizens are also invited to actively participate in our environmental stewardship programs to ensure Mont Royal’s future.

Finally, Les Amis' role is to realize the vision set out in our conservation plan, advocate for the necessary regulatory changes that mountain stakeholders want, promote knowledge sharing between all partners involved, and deliver activities in their field that support, educate and raise awareness about conservation.