Coalition Mont Kaaikop

A natural territory linked to others...

The objective of Coalition Mont-Kaaikop is to create a natural and protected area, interconnected with other existing and potential wilderness territories, to ensure the sustainability of the water system, the diversity and free development of animal and plant species, the maintenance and improvment of ecosystems and public access to ecological splendours, by the support of non-invasive and recurrent recreational and tourism activities.

 

Mont-Kaaikop site includes Mount Kaaikop itself, surrounding public lands and a biodiversity corridor linking Mont-Tremblant, Mount Kaaïkop, the Mohawk Territory of Tioweroton and the proposed protected area of Forêt Ouareau. See the map

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Mount Kaaikop is one of the highest intact peaks of the Laurentians, culminating at 838 meters. Accessible from L'Interval's outbound facility, its vertical drop of 342 meters from Lake Legault makes hiking, snowshoeing or cross country skiing towards the summit a rewarding experience, through 2.8 kilometers of marked trails, with an average duration of 1.5 hour.

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The forests of Mount Kaaikop grow in altitude , on thin soils, steep slopes and are subject to severe weather conditions, typical of the high peaks of the Laurentians. A partial characterization Mount Kaaikop, conducted by an independent professional firm commissioned by the Coalition, reveals that forests at Kaaikop are very old, many centuries old.

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The land surrounding Mount Kaaikop and those forming part of the biodiversity corridor have also their special characteristics, but their natural state was not as well preserved as for the Kaaikop. The summits of Mount Kaakop are located in Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, in the administrative region of the Laurentians. The north and east slopes are in Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm and Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, in the administrative region of  Lanaudière. These municipal and administrative divisions have enabled the development of resources to varying degrees. Some lands have remained intact, with their qualities and their rich and healthy ecosystems. Others were exploited and should recover their original qualities.

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Old forests have become rare in Québec, moreover in the Laurentians and Lanaudière . Public bodies have set preservation goals for natural environments, landscapes, ancient forests, ecosystems and habitats to ensure the sustainability of the ecological heritage of Québec. These goals are far from determined targets and related timelines. The creation of a protected area at Mont-Kaaikop allow to be closer to many of these goals.

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