Environment and sustainability
Protecting the beauty and heritage of Au Diable Vert and the surrounding region is key to all aspects of our business
Given that one of the primary drivers of guests to visit us is the beauty and history of the region, is of paramount importance that this is actively protected as we grow and innovate. In recognition of the efforts, Au Diable Vert was the recipient of the Canadian Tourism Awards – Parks Canada Award for Sustainable Tourism – winner 2010 – honorable mention 2011. This award is given to the most ecological tourism business in Canada!
Natural resources
Onsite, natural resources are protected through the elimination of all vehicular traffic and all guests are required to ‘people power’ all their activities, ensuring trails and the forest floor are not damaged.
Recycling
Mandatory recycling, garbage minimization and leave-no-trace philosophies are instilled in all guests to keep the impact of our business on the environment to a minimum.
Sensitive areas
Sensitive areas within the property are marked to ensure their protection, and guests are required to stay on trails, and leave all flora and fauna where they lie.
Cows food
Our grass-fed cows are features of the property and a traditional rotational grazing system allows us to minimize the impact of the cows on the environment and our guests, and portable water system and solar fence energizer complete the ‘green management’ of our herd. A taste of beef our guests enjoy and bring home with them.
Even more protection
Ever conscious of minimizing the impact of our business on the environment, Au Diable Vert has taken several active steps to ensure this is accomplished in every possible way. Specific measures put in place are numerous and include :
- Firewood for cabins and campers is sourced from fallen dead wood or forest pruning initiatives, live standing trees are never used for firewood. Starting in 2016 all small cabins now use sustainable ecologs for interior heating.
- Strict rules and education prevent guests from taking any wood (or flora or fauna) from the property.
- Guests are educated on the from bringing firewood from other regions to avoid cross contamination of different forest environments.
- Garbage minimization, mandatory recycling and composting are required for all guests.
- Cabins are highly insulated with soy-based spray foam, reducing the amount of heating required.
- Lighting for cabins provided through and solar panel/battery system,- no electricity is available to cabins or campsites.
- All construction utilizes wood from local trees never more than 50 kms from the site. Wood is responsibly harvested, not kiln dried and used in as an unprocessed form as possible.
- All water use, including for the herd of cattle is taken from a single source artesian well, tested bi-weekly for water purity in conjunction with Environment Quebec.
- No fertilizer, pesticides or insecticides are ever used on pastures. Cattle are never kept on the same piece of pasture for more than 3 consecutive days, pastures are chain harrowed following each cattle rotation to speed breakdown of manure.
