Policy respecting the Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Environment

The City is developing a Politique de protection et de mise en valeur des milieux naturels (Policy respecting the Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Environment), which it expects to adopt during 2004. With a view to preserving and increasing Montr�al�s biodiversity, the Policy will also help to improve the quality of living environments and increase the City�s appeal. It is based on an innovative approach designed to encourage initiatives and collaborations aimed at establishing the coordinated, integrated management of natural spaces with high ecological value.

The Policy pursues the following three objectives:

Maximize biodiversity and expand the area of protected natural environments;

Ensure sustainability of the natural environment in City parks and promote the consolidation and viability of park ecosystems;

Foster better integration of ecosystems and natural landscapes into the built environment.

The Policy involves six action items:

Concerted action to sustain viable ecosystems;

A regulatory framework, policies and municipal actions to support the protection of the natural environment;

Ecological management of the natural environment in City parks;

Strategic real estate interventions;

Partnerships;

Active citizen involvement.

A total of 36 million dollars is earmarked to implement the Policy by 2006.

Policy respecting the Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Environment

Implementation measures

Implement the Politique de protection et de mise en valeur des milieux naturels (Policy respecting the Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Environment).
Encourage, using appropriate regulatory measures, the protection and enhancement of natural environments, especially those located within ecoterritories and woodlots identified in Map 2.6.3, in order to meet the conservation and development objectives described in Table 2.6.1.
Create ecological and recreational corridors using existing natural environments.
Open the Bois-de-Saraguay and Bois-d’Anjou nature parks as well as the Bois-de-la-Roche agricultural park to the public.
Determine the ecological value of the riverbanks, wetlands and aquatic environments on Montréal’s territory and develop adequate protective measures as part of the Policy respecting the Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Environment (see Objective 19).
Maintain streams and watersheds within the territory by overseeing the design of development projects so as to:
- Build retaining ponds or other catch basins;
- Limit paved surfaces, particularly by reducing the size of parking lots and the width of roadways;
- Avoid channelling and redirecting streams.
Implement a program aimed at restoring and replanting riverbanks to reduce erosion problems, clean up runoff water and restore ecosystem diversity and productivity.
Protect and create views on rivers, streams and islands (see Objective 11).
Protect and enhance the islands, islets and shallows of the Montréal archipelago, notably in collaboration with concerted regional initiatives with other cities, regional county municipalities and concerned organizations.
Take appropriate corrective action on storm and sanitary sewer systems (see Objective 17).
Maintain the natural areas of the ecoterritory of the corridor écoforestier de l'île Bizard and of the Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard nature park located the the present Highway 440 right-of-way which crosses the Bizard island.