Dispute ongoing between Montreal airport and Technoparc nature reserve

A dispute is ongoing over an expansion plan at the Montreal airport that would encroach into the Technopark nature reserve.

There’s a dispute between the Montreal Airport Authority (ADM) and the Technoparc nature reserve over a piece of land.

Biodiversity advocates say the park should expand, but the airport is concerned about bird strikes, as the Technoparc, which is next to Trudeau International Airport, is home to more than 200 species of birds, other wildlife and wetlands.

The park leases land from Transport Canada and the City of Montreal. The city wants to enlarge the nature park.

“It is inconceivable to ask an airport authority to assign a nature park use to such a large land located so close to the airfield and runways, as it would increase the presence of wildlife on site,” the ADM said.

The ADM cited the Jeju Air crash in South Korea on Dec. 29 that killed 179 people. An investigation into the crash confirmed that bird strikes played a role in the Boeing 737-800 crashing.

Environmental advocate Katherine Collin calls that a fear tactic.

“We do not accept that argument,” she said. “It is not that we do not believe that passenger safety is a priority or concern. We believe that ADM is overstating the dangers posed by the bird populations here.”

Following the crash, all airports in South Korea have been ordered to install bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars.

Aviation expert John Gradek said that the ADM is being overly cautious, adding that they have similar tools if faced with such a situation.

“They’ve got guns that fire blankly the cannons,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of technology, you know deployed at the airport right now.”

The ADM also uses falconry to manage bird control.

Pierre Molina, CEO and Senior Airport Wildlife Biologist at Environnement Faucon, whose team is in charge of wildlife management at YUL, said the expansion of the park can increase the presence of certain species that are already present on the site. Adding, birds that fly in large flocks pose a significant risk to aircrafts.

The ADM controls lots three, four, five and 20 and has committed to conserving lots three and four, roughly 25 hectares of land.

It says, however, that it’s planning to develop a decarbonization support centre on lot 20 in the next 10 to 20 years.

Collin said that any destruction in the park can threaten the entire area’s biodiversity.

“So that means that the entire habitat we’re standing on right now, it means the entire habitat of monarch fields, is subject to complete, destruction according to their plan,” she said.

However, the ADM says any development on this site would be carried out in compliance with conditions designed to protect areas of high ecological value and safeguard endangered species already present on the site.

Transport Canada told CTV News, the ADM is contractually bound to operate, manage, and develop airport lands in a manner that is consistent with its mandate and its Airport Land Use Plan.

It adds: “Airports in Canada are required to have a wildlife management plan to identify and control the hazard that wildlife (birds and other animals) present to flight operations in the vicinity of their airport. It is the responsibility of the airport to understand potential risks and ensure that measures are taken to protect flight operations.”

Transport Canada also says it regularly conducts thorough inspections and oversight activities to ensure air operators are in compliance with the requirements.

Collin says she would like to see the space become an official conservation site, protecting wildlife in the area.

“So many people have come together to protect this space.”