The Kenauk Institute is a nonprofit charitable organization on the property of Kenauk in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. Kenauk is one of the largest private nature reserves in North America encompassing 65,000 acres of forest and more than 60 lakes.
The mission of The Kenauk Institute is to support, coordinate and supervise scientific research, involve local schools in environmental education, and connect Kenauk with the broader community. The vision is to establish a baseline inventory of biodiversity and monitor the property with a 100 year time horizon. With time, Kenauk will become a laboratory for monitoring climate change and human impacts.
Thanks to a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and a dedicated team of biologists, we hope to accomplish the permanent protection of North America’s largest private nature reserve.
Assessing the best management strategies in relation to increasing the overall resilience of forests to invasive pests, disease and climate change.
Assessing the best management strategies in relation to increasing the overall resilience of forests to invasive pests, disease and climate change.
The goal of the Cloud to Aquifer Natural laboratory (CANO) project is to establish a state-of-the-art network of experimental watersheds that will provide data to trace water pathways throughout the water cycle and across the Earth system components, in the cold and humid climate of eastern Canada.
The goal of the Cloud to Aquifer Natural laboratory (CANO) project is to establish a state-of-the-art network of experimental watersheds that will provide data to trace water pathways throughout the water cycle and across the Earth system components, in the cold and humid climate of eastern Canada.
Little is known about painted turtle populations at Kenauk, and no studies have assessed the natural drivers of their abundance unrelated to urbanization.
Little is known about painted turtle populations at Kenauk, and no studies have assessed the natural drivers of their abundance unrelated to urbanization.
The wood of trees serves many important functions influencing fitness; it provides mechanical support, transports water via hydraulic conduits, and stores water and essential compounds such as carbohydrates and secondary metabolites.
The wood of trees serves many important functions influencing fitness; it provides mechanical support, transports water via hydraulic conduits, and stores water and essential compounds such as carbohydrates and secondary metabolites.
Collecting demographic and habitat data from white trillium populations will contribute to our understanding of how populations change as we get closer to the species’ northern range edge.
Collecting demographic and habitat data from white trillium populations will contribute to our understanding of how populations change as we get closer to the species’ northern range edge.
Invasive Eurasian milfoil is becoming an increasingly significant issue; it is therefore important to understand how this aquatic plant affects fish communities.
Invasive Eurasian milfoil is becoming an increasingly significant issue; it is therefore important to understand how this aquatic plant affects fish communities.
The objective of this project is to quantify how dams impact biodiversity and food webs, as well as ecosystem functions.
The objective of this project is to quantify how dams impact biodiversity and food webs, as well as ecosystem functions.
Droughts are increasingly common and intense disturbances in Quebec with potential repercussions on maple production.
Droughts are increasingly common and intense disturbances in Quebec with potential repercussions on maple production.
The objective of the project is to determine whether urban warblers have different migration phenology than rural warblers (ex. Kenauk), and whether they encounter different threats during migration.
The objective of the project is to determine whether urban warblers have different migration phenology than rural warblers (ex. Kenauk), and whether they encounter different threats during migration.
The goal of the project is to determine and compare the contamination of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) frequenting agricultural versus forest environments.
The goal of the project is to determine and compare the contamination of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) frequenting agricultural versus forest environments.
Besides the well-known fact that peatlands are excellent carbon reservoirs, there is no database on the carbon reservoirs stored by wetlands in Quebec.
Besides the well-known fact that peatlands are excellent carbon reservoirs, there is no database on the carbon reservoirs stored by wetlands in Quebec.
Broad-winged hawks traverse many diverse landscapes with various anthropogenic and natural threats not only during migration but also in their breeding and wintering areas.
Broad-winged hawks traverse many diverse landscapes with various anthropogenic and natural threats not only during migration but also in their breeding and wintering areas.
It is thought that over time, colonies of non-native honeybees have escaped from apiaries and since become wild in the forests of northeastern North America.
It is thought that over time, colonies of non-native honeybees have escaped from apiaries and since become wild in the forests of northeastern North America.
The goal of this project is to analyze the relevance of trout thermal biology to the management of fisheries resources at Kenauk.
The goal of this project is to analyze the relevance of trout thermal biology to the management of fisheries resources at Kenauk.
The goal is to understand how hydrological connectivity, biodiversity and lotic ecosystems are affected by forestry and climate change.
The goal is to understand how hydrological connectivity, biodiversity and lotic ecosystems are affected by forestry and climate change.
Eurasian milfoil is a widespread invasive plant and brings with it a suite of negative impacts for humans and ecosystems.
Eurasian milfoil is a widespread invasive plant and brings with it a suite of negative impacts for humans and ecosystems.
The objective of this project is to safely sample Ixodes scapularis ticks at Kenauk in order to inform management and prevention of Lyme disease.
The objective of this project is to safely sample Ixodes scapularis ticks at Kenauk in order to inform management and prevention of Lyme disease.
The objective of this project is to carry out long-term monitoring of the annual densities of voles and forest mice at Kenauk.
The objective of this project is to carry out long-term monitoring of the annual densities of voles and forest mice at Kenauk.
Freshwater mussels are among the most threatened faunal groups globally, with nearly 30% of Canada’s species considered at risk.
Freshwater mussels are among the most threatened faunal groups globally, with nearly 30% of Canada’s species considered at risk.
Bats play ecological roles that are vital to the health of ecosystems, including pest control, pollinating plants and seed dispersal.
Bats play ecological roles that are vital to the health of ecosystems, including pest control, pollinating plants and seed dispersal.
The goal of this project is to continue the long term monitoring of water quality in Papineau Lake.
The goal of this project is to continue the long term monitoring of water quality in Papineau Lake.
In 2014, NCC began a series of inventories on the property of Kenauk with the goal of documenting it’s biodiversity to exemplify its value.
In 2014, NCC began a series of inventories on the property of Kenauk with the goal of documenting it’s biodiversity to exemplify its value.
While loon populations are currently stable, a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution.
While loon populations are currently stable, a number of threats loom, including human encroachment and pollution.
The Kenauk Institute, in partnership with the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), has it’s own weather station installed at Whitefish Lake (the center of the property). This weather station collects hourly data on various weather parameters.
Learn MoreThe Kenauk Institute, in partnership with the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), has it’s own weather station installed at Whitefish Lake (the center of the property). This weather station collects hourly data on various weather parameters.
Learn MoreThe Kenauk Institute offers our guests and researchers unique accommodations in our pod village. These small but cozy cabins are equipped with all the basic necessities and comforts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Learn MoreThe Kenauk Institute offers our guests and researchers unique accommodations in our pod village. These small but cozy cabins are equipped with all the basic necessities and comforts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Learn MoreThe property of Kenauk has more than 60 lakes, 24 of which are actively available for recreational fishing. The lakes vary greatly in size, depth and species composition as well some are stocked while others aren’t.
Learn MoreThe property of Kenauk has more than 60 lakes, 24 of which are actively available for recreational fishing. The lakes vary greatly in size, depth and species composition as well some are stocked while others aren’t.
Learn MoreWith its myriad of lakes, the Kenauk property is an exceptional location for aquatic surveys and research projects. To accomplish this, the Kenauk Institute offers a wide range of boats and vessels to its researchers and guests, consisting of non-powered crafts (e.g., kayaks, canoes) and powered crafts (electric or gas motor).
Learn MoreWith its myriad of lakes, the Kenauk property is an exceptional location for aquatic surveys and research projects. To accomplish this, the Kenauk Institute offers a wide range of boats and vessels to its researchers and guests, consisting of non-powered crafts (e.g., kayaks, canoes) and powered crafts (electric or gas motor).
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