Gault Nature Reserve of McGill University is a private Reserve which protects 1000 hectares of natural primeval forests of the St. Lawrence Valley. Situated at Mont-Saint-Hilaire approximately 40 km from Montreal, this panoramic natural landscape is ideal for discovering nature, teaching and university research. The public sector with 25 km of trail network is open 365 days per year for visitors' enjoyment.
Affiliated with the Faculty of Science of McGill University, the Gault team offers support to research and teaching of natural sciences while providing a wide range of services to the university community and the general public.
Mission
1. To preserve the ecosystem of the entire mountain as nearly as possible in its natural state and to work with local communities to minimize any adverse impacts on the mountain ecosystem that would be associated with activities or developments at the perimeters of the Reserve.
2. Within the reasonable constraints of preservation, to encourage the use of the mountain for the widest possible range of University research and teaching programs.
3. Within the reasonable constraints of preservation, to work in partnership with the Nature Conservation Centre to emphasize the special character of the mountain and to foster public enjoyment of its amenities.
4. Within the reasonable constraints of preservation and with cognizance of budgetary constraints in the University, to allow use of the Reserve by carefully selected enterprises that are in keeping with the tranquility and conservation status of the mountain.
Prof. Gregor Fussmann
