Kenauk

Kenauk’s breathtaking forests, wetlands and rare wildlife make it one of Quebec’s most ecologically significant landscapes. Since 2013, NCC and the Kenauk Institute have been working in partnership to protect this extraordinary 26,000-hectare landscape in the province’s Outaouais region. Together, we can ensure this irreplaceable landscape receives the permanent protection it deserves.

An aerial view of a large lake surrounded by dense green forests and numerous islands.

Table of contents

Location

Quebec

Protected since

2013

Habitat(s)

Forest, Wetlands, Lakes and rivers

Needs support now

Protect places like this, forever

Donate today

Kenauk at a glance

Kenauk is a 26,000-hectare natural treasure, with a rich mosaic of habitats—from forests and wetlands to lakes—that provide a home for an incredible diversity of wildlife and make this landscape a priority for long-term conservation.
To date, we have protected 8,000 hectares in collaboration with the Kenauk Institute. Together, we are working toward the permanent protection of the entire landscape while supporting natural science, education and research initiatives that help us better understand and conserve this remarkable place.
Kenauk is home to eastern wolves, American black bears, including several rare cinnamon-coloured ones, many species of ducks and other migratory birds, and a wide variety of plant life, including the beautiful yet at-risk black maple.

Why protecting Kenauk matters

Kenauk’s forests, lakes and wetlands are a living example of why conserving large, connected natural areas is essential for the future of both wildlife and people. The knowledge gained through this project is already informing conservation beyond Kenauk’s borders, supporting healthier ecosystems, cleaner water and greater climate resilience. Through our partnership with the Kenauk Institute, we have a unique opportunity to protect more of this vital landscape, one of the few opportunities to conserve such a large and important natural area in the region.

Vital habitats

Kenauk’s diverse mosaic of habitats, including forests, wetlands and lakes, is home to a variety of at-risk species. By protecting this landscape, we are not only helping these species survive, but also giving them the opportunity to thrive.

Ecological connectivity

In a part of Quebec where large-scale conservation is rare, our work at Kenauk connects vital habitats, allowing wildlife to move safely and freely while supporting healthier, more resilient ecosystems that benefit both nature and nearby communities.

A fruitful partnership

Since 2013, we’ve partnered with the Kenauk Institute to permanently protect crucial natural areas in the Outaouais region.

Science-led conservation work

We collaborate on research that guides conservation priorities and long-term stewardship.

A view of a colorful autumn forest with mist rolling through the trees.

A deer stands in a lush green clearing near fallen logs.

What’s at stake?

As development grows around Kenauk, the natural spaces wildlife depend on are becoming increasingly fragmented. That’s why protecting large areas of this landscape is so important. It keeps these vital habitats intact and connected, allowing species to move freely while supporting healthy ecosystems for generations to come.

What could be lost?

Without continued protection, Kenauk’s connected habitats could begin to break apart. As forests, wetlands and lakes become divided, wildlife has fewer places to move freely, find food and raise their young. The loss of these vital connections would create a ripple effect beyond Kenauk’s borders, impacting wildlife, ecosystems and the health of the surrounding landscape.

Why does it matter?

Kenauk sustains countless species and provides essential benefits to surrounding communities. Without long-term protection, the health of this remarkable landscape could be at risk. But there is hope. By conserving Kenauk, we are strengthening local ecosystems, supporting nature’s ability to adapt to a changing climate and ensuring that this landscape can continue to benefit the region for generations to come.

Why is action needed now?

In southern Quebec, large, connected natural areas like Kenauk are becoming increasingly rare. Protecting this landscape now will maintain the connected habitats that wildlife and communities depend on, support local biodiversity and advance conservation research.

Kenauk: A conservation, research and education project

A calm river reflects the colorful autumn trees of a dense forest.

Kenauk’s forests act as a living laboratory, helping researchers understand how nature responds to change and how we can support more resilient ecosystems for the future.

Where the common loon calls home

With more than 60 lakes, Kenauk provides vital freshwater habitat for species like the common loon. Through research and species monitoring, we are learning more about how they nest, what challenges they face and how we can better protect them.

While loon populations are currently stable, their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them vulnerable to human disturbance, climate change and pollution. As a result, loons serve as important indicators of the health of Kenauk’s freshwater ecosystems.

A common loon spreads its wings while floating on blue water.

Common loons, Carden Alvar (Photo by Bill Macintyre)

A person leans over to examine plants in a sunlit forest.

The plan in action

Our approach to protecting Kenauk is rooted in science, collaboration and long-term stewardship.

Protect

Protecting Kenauk requires knowledge, collaboration and long-term care. We work with partners, including the Kenauk Institute, universities and public stakeholders, to guide science-based conservation and protect the forests, lakes, wetlands and wildlife habitats that make this landscape so extraordinary.

Connect

Protecting Kenauk keeps nature connected across the southern Laurentians. As a corridor between large natural areas, Kenauk provides wildlife with the space and connections they need to move, find food and adapt to a changing environment. Through research and monitoring, we are learning how species use this landscape and identifying opportunities to strengthen these connections for the future.

Advancing conservation science

Through research, monitoring and education, we are building the knowledge needed to understand Kenauk’s ecosystems, guide decision-making and inform conservation strategies beyond its borders.

Protect places like this, forever

Donate now

A woman in a vest and hat gestures while talking to another person in a wooded area near water.

Our partners

At the heart of our work is the Kenauk Institute, a committed organization dedicated to protecting Kenauk’s intact wilderness and advancing research and education that guide conservation.