BIOPOLIS PROJECTS

In 2012, Ryan Young started a volunteer-driven bird nestbox project in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue with help from a grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and the city of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. Initially targeting Wood Ducks, volunteers built 20 large nest boxes with wood and materials donated by Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and placed them in the prime habitats in the municipality that were found in the Morgan Arboretum, the McGill Bird Observatory area, and the Parc-nature de l’Anse-à-l’Orme (wetlands in wooded areas).

With the resulting success of that project, bluebird houses were then placed along the city’s municipal bike path and in open agricultural areas. Ryan has documented each season and recorded all the different species that have used the boxes that include Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, House Wrens, and Black-capped Chickadees. To date, the project counts more than 30 of these nextboxes, and over 80 % are used by Tree Swallows with a high degree of breeding success. Tree Swallows are aerial insectivores and this species along with many other swallow species have been suffering population declines over the last decade.

The project also included erecting three Purple Martin nestbox structures along the shore of Lac St. Louis and the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue canal that have met with some success. The project would not have been possible without the help of dedicated volunteers like George Panciuk and Geoffrey Webster.

Impacts of urbanization on spontaneous flora and urban vacant lots – IRBV – Université de Montréal

Urban areas are composed of a mosaic of new types of habitat (squares at the base of trees, alleyways, fencerows, etc.) where flora can establish itself spontaneously. Vacant lots and meadows are also part of the urban landscape and are rapidly colonized by vegetation and wildlife.

The objectives of this study are to characterize the vegetation of some of these typically urban habitats, to assess the impact of urbanization on plant community composition, and to evaluate the role of exotic species within these habitats. Sampled habitats include wall margins, fencerows, hedgerows and urban meadows. Surveys were conducted throughout the Montreal and Quebec City regions with nearly 200 habitat parcels surveyed within the boundaries of the City of Montreal.

Preliminary results indicate that spontaneous urban flora is strongly dominated by exotic species and that plant communities are similar to one another regardless of urbanization degree. Also, while native and exotic species in Quebec City are very similar in terms of functional traits, those present in the City of Montreal are very different. For example, exotic species in Montreal were found to be generally short-lived with a greater capacity to disseminate over long distances than the recorded native species.

Impacts of urbanization on plant diversity of Montreal woodlands – IRBV – Université de Montréal

Urbanization is characterized by loss and fragmentation of ecosystems. This process often leads to a decrease of the number of native plant species and an increase of exotic species. This phenomenon ultimately leads to the homogenization of urban flora, which means that there will be a loss of diversity among communities of different ecosystems.

This broad scale project comprises of multiple objectives. Namely, it aims to quantify woodland flora of Montreal and its adjacent municipalities, to assess the impact of urbanization intensity on this flora in space and time, to identify species that may serve as indicators of ecological integrity of urban woodlands, and to assist in the deployment of management plans adapted to these ecosystems.

To date, this project has demonstrated that Montreal woodlands boast a rich and diversified flora and that native species are still very abundant within them. In fact, several native species never recorded in the Montreal area or in the province were identified while conducting vegetation surveys in the course of this study. Results also showed that local woodland density is an important factor that determines richness, which supports the need to preserve the totality of these woodlands, down to the smallest patch. These woodlands also play a role in the fight against urban heat islands, thus improving the quality of life of citizens.

Living Campus is the embodiment of Dawson College’s commitment to the improvement of society and exists with three goals. First, to act as a socially and ecologically responsible agent through the identification and management of sustainability performance indicators. Second, to reconnect people, communities, and nature through the development of nature-based action projects that involve real-world ecological problem-solving, increase biodiversity in an urban setting, and cultivate collaboration. Third, Living Campus aims to advance the understanding and teaching of sustainability by building local and international learning communities that foster collaboration and exchange of best practices.

Within the framework of the Living Campus project, Dawson College created a series of green spaces dedicated to biodiversity and sustainable practices on its grounds, with the collaboration of devoted students and teachers. Among these are:

• Several themed rooftop gardens: food production, apiary, « Three Sisters » garden, medicinal plants, decomposition garden, etc.
• A Monarch nursery garden with more than 200 milkweed plants.
• A Peace Garden.
• Several biodiversity zones such as a pond, a forest floor garden and a meadow garden.

The project also features a nature interpretation program for youth (Naturehood), a Monarch rearing and release project, as well as a network of 6 bird feeding stations.

For over a decade, the implementation of Montréal’s Policy on the Protection and Enhancement of Natural Habitats aims to:

(1) maximize biodiversity and increase aggregate hectarage of protected natural habitats in Montréal;

(2) ensure the sustainability of natural habitats in existing City parks, and promote the consolidation and viability of park ecosystems;

(3) foster enhanced integration of ecosystems and natural landscapes in built-up areas.

The Policy identifies 10 ecoterritories, in which natural habitats are larger than 15 ha and slated for priority protection and enhancement. Conservation projects are elaborated through a concerted planning process, and are based on the ecological network concept (core zones, buffer zones, ecological corridors). The implementation of the Policy has allowed for the creation and expansion of numerous nature parks. After the Policy’s original goal was achieved in 2015, namely the protection of 6% of terrestrial areas in the agglomeration, the goal was adjusted to 10 % in the Schéma d’aménagement et de développement de Montréal. When taking into account large bodies of water around the island of Montréal, over 17 % of the agglomeration is already under protection, which corresponds to the international goal. However, the City wishes to concentrate its efforts on terrestrial areas, where balancing development and conservation is a very important and complex issue.

The Répertoire des milieux naturels protégés du Québec (Directory of Protected Natural Areas in Quebec), is an exhaustive directory of natural areas on private land in southern Quebec protected by non-government organizations.

The repertoire compiles more than 750 protected sites. It locates the protected natural areas in Quebec so they can be incorporated in territory planning and regional protection strategies.

The repertoire’s website helps to visualize the progress made towards protecting the province’s territory and the Registration Platform can be used to record a protected site that is not in the repertoire yet.

Sauvons la falaise is a group of engaged citizens with a primary mission to protect the eco-territory of the Saint-Jacques escarpment, an oasis of nature in the heart of the city. While recognizing the need for the infrastructure renewal program proposed by the Turcot highway project, Sauvons la falaise nevertheless aims to protect the falaise St. Jacques from further incursions by the MTQ (Quebec Ministry of Transport); promote connectivity though bike paths and the green belt between NDG, the Sud Ouest, Lachine, Montreal West and Westmount; clean up the falaise; and compel the City and the MTQ to release the plans for the falaise and surrounding areas including the Turcot Yards.

Les Amis du Parc Meadowbrook is a committed group of citizens affiliated with local and national environmental organizations that protect natural spaces. Their mission is to protect Meadowbrook from development and transform it into Meadowbrook Park, a new 57-hectare urban nature heritage park, open and accessible to all, and connected through a greenway to a network of other parks, including the falaise Saint-Jacques.

Mission Monarch is a scientific project dedicated to the conservation of the Monarch butterfly through research, citizen science and education. The project is a joint initiative of the Montreal Insectarium and the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (Plant Biology Research Institute), that also involves researchers from the universities of Ottawa, Rimouski, and Calgary.

As a citizen science project, participants visit milkweed fields several times a summer to examine plants in search of monarch eggs and caterpillars, and share data collected with researchers via the website. Mission Monarch aims to document and identify the best monarch breeding habitats to help researchers implement an effective conservation plan for Canada.

From April to November 2015, Miel Montréal offered an urban beekeeping and bee-friendly eco-gardening internship to a group of 15 participants between the ages of 18 and 30. For 12 weeks, this program combined 45 hours of theoretical workshops with 105 hours of practical training in urban beekeeping, biodiversity conservation and bee-friendly gardening. This internship was made possible by the Fond régional d’investissement jeunesse of the Forum jeunesse de l’île de Montréal.

Based on the idea that the greening of the urban ecosystems and biodiversity conservation are just as important as beekeeping itself, this program enabled participants to acquire basic knowledge and skills in the following fields:

• Ecological beekeeping in urban settings;
• Apiarian gardening through the creation of bee and pollinator-friendly habitat;
• Social awareness for biodiversity conservation and food justice through the organization of awareness-raising, citizen mobilization and participation activities.

The internship culminated in the completion of the Bee Path, a wildflower garden dedicated to the diversity of local pollinators at la Tohu.

For several years now, the solidarity co-op Miel Montréal is involved in youth participation and commitment through educational workshops on bees, pollinators and biodiversity preservation and care. Through our new and renewed partnerships, Miel Montréal is committed to greening and embellishing Montreal like never before.

As the one and only outdoor zoo on the island of Montréal, the Ecomuseum Zoo offers their visitors the opportunity to experience the wildlife of Quebec in an enchanting natural setting. Their mission centres on environmental education, wildlife and habitat conservation, and animal welfare. The Ecomuseum Zoo also raises awareness about the importance of protecting Quebec’s biodiversity to their 115,000 annual visitors.

The animals of the Ecomuseum Zoo are non-releasable: orphans, injured, and/or born under professional human care, they have all found a permanent loving home at the zoo.

A Tree For My Neighbourhood is a campaign initiated by both the Regroupement des éco-quartiers (REQ) and the Société de verdissement du Montréal métropolitain (SOVERDI) encouraging Montreal citizens to plant trees on their property and enjoy their many benefits.

A Tree For My Neighborhood is part of a city-wide effort to increase the plant cover on the island of Montreal. The initiative is part of the Action Plan for the Urban Forest and 5,500 trees have been planted under the program since 2013.