the mrnfp’s forest ecosystem information · pdf filethey include: denis alain, christian...
TRANSCRIPT
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchy is one of the information tools used to plan forestoperations and prepare management plans in conformity with the principles of biodiversity conser-vation and sustainable development. The system enables forest managers to apply an integratedresource management approach to their planning activities. It is based on a forest heritage devel-opment perspective that should be adopted by all public and private forest managers and stake-holders.
PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS AND DOCUMENTS
AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL
• Integrated forest inventory maps to a scale of 1:20,000 showing ecological types, surface deposits and drainage
• Surficial deposit maps to a scale of 1:50,000
• Land district maps to a scale of 1:250,000 and fact sheets
• Maps of southern Québec’s regional landscapes to a scale of 1:1,250,000 and fact sheets
• Maps of southern Québec’s land regions and subregions to a scale of 1:1,250,000
• Maps of Québec’s bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones
• Ecological classification reports by bioclimatic domain
• Field guides for identifying ecological typesby land region
__________Note: All these products, except for the map of bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones, cover southern Québec only.
MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLESDE LA FAUNE ET DES PARCSDirection des inventaires forestiers
880, chemin Sainte-Foy, 3e étageQuébec (Québec) G1S 4X4Telephone : (418) 627-8669 Toll-free : 1 877 9FORÊTS (1 877-936-7387)Fax : (418) 644-9672
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchy and its deriv-atives were made possible by the efforts of many peoplewho have worked on this vast project over the years, andcontinue to do so. They include: Denis Alain, ChristianBédard, Jean-Pierre Berger, Jean-François Bergeron*,Jacques Blouin, Hélène D’Avignon, André Faucher,Caroline Flaschner, Claude Gagné, Jocelyn Gosselin,Pierre Grondin*, Yves Landry, Pierre Leboeuf, GaétanLord, Anne Morissette, Jean Noël, Philippe Racine, DenisRobert*, André Robitaille*, Normand Routhier, Jean-Pierre Saucier*, Lynda Simard, Sylvie Tremblay, ÉricVaillancourt. Many other people were also involved indata collection and analysis.
* Responsible for concept development and methods.
� Gouvernement du QuébecMinistère des Ressources naturelles,de la Faune et des Parcs, 2003
Distribution Code: 2003-3064
RS25S (or RE25S)
RS22M
RE20
LAC RIVAILLE HILLOCKS (98W013)
LAC BOUCHETTE (95)
LAC AUX RATS (96)
LAC D'ANVILLE (97)
LAC
SIMO
NC
OU
CH
EH
ILLS (5D-M
)
LAC O
NA
TCHIW
AY
HILLS (5D
-T)
LAC CO
NN
ELLY (98)
LAC
ON
ATC
HIW
AY
(99)
EASTER
N
BA
LSAM
FIR
-WH
ITE BIR
CH
WESTERN
BALSA
M
FIR-WH
ITE BIRCH
BO
REA
L
AR
CTIC
SPRUCE-M
OSS D
OM
AIN
PIPMU
ACA
N RESERV
OIR (100)
HILLS SU
RROU
ND
ING
LAC SA
INT-JEA
N (5D
)
HA
UT SA
INT-M
AU
RICE
HILLS (5C)
GO
UIN
RESERVO
IR
HILLO
CKS (5B)
ABITIBI PLA
INS (5A
)
LAC MALFAIT HIGH HILLS (98V009)
LAC DOUCET HIGH HILLS (98V010)
LAC ÉTO
ILE HILLS (98V
011)
LAC
DES A
IGLES H
ILLS (98V012)
LAC
DE L'O
UEST H
ILLOC
KS (98V
013)
LAC PRO
ULX
HILLO
CKS (98V
014)
LAC BERNABÉ HILLS (98V015)
PÉRIBONKA RIVER VALLEY (98V016)
RE22
RE37 (or RS37)RE39 (or RS39)RE38 (or RS38)RE25
RE24
RE21 (o
r RE11)
RS21
MS21
MS25
MS22 (or M
S62)
MS20 (or M
S60)
RS20
MS12
MS15
RS38RS25
RS22
CON
TINU
OU
S BOREA
L
FOREST
TAIG
A
FOREST TU
ND
RA
NO
RTHERN
TEMPERATE
LAKE
BA
LSAM
FIR-W
HITE B
IRC
H
A HOST OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
THE MRNFP’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM INFORMATION PROGRAM
The purpose of the Ecological LandClassification Hierarchyis to describe the diversity anddistribution of Québec’s ecosystems. It is one of thenumerous elements that make up the ForestEcosystem Information Programmaintained by theMinistère des Ressources naturelles, de la Faune et desParcs. The program also includes ecosystem mappingactivities at different scales, as well as ecological anddendometric surveys and data compilations.
The diagram to the right illustrates the structure andinterconnections of the Ecological Land ClassificationHierarchy.
New applications of the EcologicalLand Classification Hierarchyaredeveloped constantly as plannersuse its derivative products andapply its various levels to forestmanagement needs. For example,connections have been identifiedbetween vertical tree growth andbiophysical features, especiallyecological type, within ecologicalregions. Projects such as this onehave fostered the use of ecologic-al information in the preparationof silvicultural scenarios and forestmanagement plans. The MRNFPhas also produced a map of areassensitive to rutting after loggingin forest wetlands. The map,based on regional landscapes, isdesigned to help with the monit-oring of work in Québec’s mostsensitive sectors. In recent years,derivative products from the hier-archy have also been used byother agencies for research intowildlife habitats, landscapes andland use planning.
VEGETATION ZONE
VEGETATIONSUBZONE
BIOCLIMATICDOMAIN
BIOCLIMATICSUBDOMAIN
LAND REGION
LAND SUBREGION
REGIONALLANDSCAPE
LAND DISTRICT ANDALTITUDINAL
VEGETATION LEVEL
ECOLOGICAL TYPEAND FOREST TYPE
RéservoirPipmuacan
FleuveSaint-Laurent
LacSaint-Jean
LacSaint-Jean
RéservoirPipmuacan
FleuveSaint-Laurent
LacSaint-Jean
RéservoirPipmuacan
PetiteRivière
Péribo
nka
PetiteRiv
ièrePérib
on
ka
RE39
Boreal vegetation zone
Continuous boreal forest
Balsam fir-white birch
Western balsam fir-white birch
Hills around Lac-Saint-Jean
Lac Onatchiway Hills
Lac Connelly
Lac Étoile HillsNote: Level not shown
RE39: Black spruce-sphagnum on verypoorly drained organic soilNote: Forest type not shown
CH
RIS
TIA
NE
LEC
LER
C C
OM
MU
NIC
ATI
ON
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchyis one of the information tools used to plan forestoperations and prepare management plans in conformity with the principles of biodiversity conser-vation and sustainable development. The system enables forest managers to apply an integratedresource management approach to their planning activities. It is based on a forest heritage devel-opment perspective that should be adopted by all public and private forest managers and stake-holders.
PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS AND DOCUMENTS
AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL
•Integrated forest inventory maps to a scale of 1:20,000 showing ecological types, surface deposits and drainage
•Surficial deposit maps to a scale of 1:50,000
•Land district maps to a scale of 1:250,000 and fact sheets
•Maps of southern Québec’s regional landscapes to a scale of 1:1,250,000 and fact sheets
•Maps of southern Québec’s land regions and subregions to a scale of 1:1,250,000
•Maps of Québec’s bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones
•Ecological classification reports by bioclimatic domain
•Field guides for identifying ecological typesby land region
__________Note: All these products, except for the map of bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones, cover southern Québec only.
MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLESDE LA FAUNE ET DES PARCSDirection des inventaires forestiers
880, chemin Sainte-Foy, 3eétageQuébec (Québec) G1S 4X4Telephone : (418) 627-8669 Toll-free : 1 877 9FORÊTS (1 877-936-7387)Fax : (418) 644-9672
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchyand its deriv-atives were made possible by the efforts of many peoplewho have worked on this vast project over the years, andcontinue to do so. They include: Denis Alain, ChristianBédard, Jean-Pierre Berger, Jean-François Bergeron*,Jacques Blouin, Hélène D’Avignon, André Faucher,Caroline Flaschner, Claude Gagné, Jocelyn Gosselin,Pierre Grondin*, Yves Landry, Pierre Leboeuf, GaétanLord, Anne Morissette, Jean Noël, Philippe Racine, DenisRobert*, André Robitaille*, Normand Routhier, Jean-Pierre Saucier*, Lynda Simard, Sylvie Tremblay, ÉricVaillancourt. Many other people were also involved indata collection and analysis.
* Responsible for concept development and methods.
� Gouvernement du QuébecMinistère des Ressources naturelles,de la Faune et des Parcs, 2003
Distribution Code: 2003-3064
RS25S
(or R
E25S
)
RS22M
RE20
LAC RIV
AILLE H
ILLOCKS (9
8W013)
LAC BOUCHETTE (95)
LAC A
UX RATS (96)
LAC D
'ANVILL
E (9
7)
LAC
SIM
ON
CO
UC
HE
HIL
LS (
5D-M
)
LA
C O
NA
TCH
IWA
Y
HIL
LS (5
D-T
)
LAC
CON
NEL
LY (9
8)
LAC
ON
ATC
HIW
AY
(99
)
EAST
ERN
B
ALS
AM
FI
R-W
HIT
E B
IRC
H
WES
TERN
BA
LSA
M
FIR-
WH
ITE
BIRC
H
BO
REA
L
AR
CTI
C
SPRU
CE-M
OSS
DO
MA
IN
PIPM
UA
CAN
RES
ERV
OIR
(100
)
HIL
LS S
URR
OU
ND
ING
LAC
SAIN
T-JE
AN
(5D
)
HA
UT
SAIN
T-M
AU
RICE
HIL
LS (5
C)
GO
UIN
RES
ERV
OIR
HIL
LOCK
S (5
B)
ABI
TIBI
PLA
INS
(5A
)
LAC M
ALFAIT
HIGH H
ILLS (
98V00
9)
LAC
DOUC
ET H
IGH
HILL
S (9
8V01
0)
LAC
ÉTO
ILE
HIL
LS (9
8V01
1)
LAC
DES
AIG
LES
HIL
LS (
98V
012)
LAC
DE
L'O
UES
T H
ILLO
CK
S (9
8V01
3)
LAC
PRO
ULX
HIL
LOCK
S (9
8V01
4)
LAC
BERN
ABÉ H
ILLS
(98V
015)
PÉRIB
ONKA RIV
ER V
ALLEY
(98V
016)
RE22
RE37
(or R
S37)
RE39
(or R
S39)
RE38
(or R
S38)
RE25
RE24
RE2
1 (o
r R
E11)
RS2
1
MS2
1
MS2
5
MS2
2 (o
r M
S62)
MS2
0 (o
r M
S60)
RS20
MS1
2
MS1
5
RS38
RS25
RS22
CO
NTI
NU
OU
S BO
REA
L
FORE
ST
TAIG
A
FORE
ST T
UN
DRA
NO
RTH
ERN
TEM
PERA
TE
LAKE
BA
LSA
MFI
R-W
HIT
E B
IRC
H
A HOST OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
THE MRNFP’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM INFORMATION PROGRAM
The purpose of the Ecological LandClassification Hierarchy is to describe the diversity anddistribution of Québec’s ecosystems. It is one of thenumerous elements that make up the ForestEcosystem Information Program maintained by theMinistère des Ressources naturelles, de la Faune et desParcs. The program also includes ecosystem mappingactivities at different scales, as well as ecological anddendometric surveys and data compilations.
The diagram to the right illustrates the structure andinterconnections of the Ecological Land ClassificationHierarchy.
New applications of the EcologicalLand Classification Hierarchy aredeveloped constantly as plannersuse its derivative products andapply its various levels to forestmanagement needs. For example,connections have been identifiedbetween vertical tree growth andbiophysical features, especiallyecological type, within ecologicalregions. Projects such as this onehave fostered the use of ecologic-al information in the preparationof silvicultural scenarios and forestmanagement plans. The MRNFPhas also produced a map of areassensitive to rutting after loggingin forest wetlands. The map,based on regional landscapes, isdesigned to help with the monit-oring of work in Québec’s mostsensitive sectors. In recent years,derivative products from the hier-archy have also been used byother agencies for research intowildlife habitats, landscapes andland use planning.
VEGETATION ZONE
VEGETATIONSUBZONE
BIOCLIMATICDOMAIN
BIOCLIMATICSUBDOMAIN
LAND REGION
LAND SUBREGION
REGIONALLANDSCAPE
LAND DISTRICT ANDALTITUDINAL
VEGETATION LEVEL
ECOLOGICAL TYPEAND FOREST TYPE
RéservoirPipmuacan
Fleuve
Sain
t-Lau
rent
LacSaint-Jean
LacSaint-Jean
RéservoirPipmuacan
Fleuve
Sain
t-Lau
rent
LacSaint-Jean
RéservoirPipmuacan
Petit
eRi
vi
ère
Péri
bo
nka
Peti
teRi
viè
rePé
rib
on
ka
RE39
Boreal vegetation zone
Continuous boreal forest
Balsam fir-white birch
Western balsam fir-white birch
Hills around Lac-Saint-Jean
Lac Onatchiway Hills
Lac Connelly
Lac Étoile HillsNote: Level not shown
RE39: Black spruce-sphagnum on verypoorly drained organic soilNote: Forest type not shown
CH
RISTIA
NE LEC
LERC
CO
MM
UN
ICA
TION
INTEREST
Forests
• Forest management
• Silvicultural planning
• Allowable annual cut calculations
• Research on growth and yield tables by ecological type
Land Use Planning
• Location of exceptional and rare forest ecosystems
• Creation of nature interpretation trails
Wildlife
• Location of hunting areas
• Research into wildlife habitats
ALTIDUDINAL VEGETATION LEVELAn area in which altitude has such a signifi-cant impact on climate that it changes thestructure and sometimes the type of vegeta-tion, causing it to resemble that of morenortherly regions.
REGIONAL LANDSCAPEAn area characterized bya recurrent arrangementof the principal permanent ecologicalfactors and vegetation.
INTEREST
Forests
• Planning and management of forest roads
• Limitations to forest operations (presence of steep slopes, hydrographic density, etc.)
• Location of gravel and sand pits
Land Use Planning
• Regional development plans, municipal urban development plans
• Integrated management for drainage basins, especially with regard to the hydrological behaviour of watercourses
Wildlife
• Location and distribution of northern plant and animal species in southern Québec
INTEREST
Forests
• Constitution of survey units for ecoforest surveys
• Location of forest wetlands likely to be disturbed by forest operations
Land Use Planning
• Potential for and limitations on land use planning (farming, urban development, etc.)
• Planning of leisure and tourist developments
Wildlife
• Environmental analyses
• Research on forest mosaics resulting from interactions between vegetation and natural disturbances.
LAND SUBREGIONA portion of a landregion where the vege-tation growing on mesicsites is typical of eitherthe bioclimatic domainto which it belongs, or ofmore southerly or morenortherly areas.
LAND REGIONAn area characterizedby the compositionand dynamics of thevegetation growing onmesic sites, and by thedistribution of ecologi-cal types within thelandscape.
INTEREST
Forests
• Illustrates the distributionof ecological types used for ecoforest photo-interpretation
• Identification of rules for the displacement and origin of forest seeds and plants seedlings
Land Use Planning
• Location and creation of provincial parks
Wildlife
• Regional location of sites suitable for wildlife (moose, white-tailed deer, wolf, etc.)
ECOLOGICAL TYPEA local sector exhibiting apermanent combinationof potential vegetationand physical features.
LAND DISTRICTA sector characterized by a unique pattern ofrelief, geology, geomorphology and regionalvegetation.
BIOCLIMATIC SUBDOMAINA portion of a bioclimatic domain exhibitingdistinct vegetation patterns reflecting differ-ences in precipitation types and levels.
INTEREST
Forests
• Analysis of the distribution and extent of forest fires and natural disturbances (e.g. spruce budworm infestations)
Land Use Planning
• Location and creation of provincial parks
Wildlife
• Distribution of bird nesting areas (e.g. Atlas of Nesting Birds in Southern Québec)
BIOCLIMATIC DOMAINAn area characterized by a particular type ofvegetation in the finalstage of succession,reflecting the balancebetween climate andpotential vegetation on mesic sites.
VEGETATION SUBZONEA portion of a vegetationzone characterized by thedominant vegetationphysiognomy at the finalstage of succession.
VEGETATION ZONELarge continental-scale areacharacterized by its plant for-mation physiognomy.
INTEREST
Forests• General climatic research and links with
the major vegetation zones
• Research into wildlife distribution and large-scale migrations (e.g. caribou)
Sugar maple-basswood forest located in thesouthern portion of the northern temperatevegetation zone.
Black spruce trees are characteristic of theblack spruce-sphagnum forests typicallyfound in poor, badly drained areas in thesouthern sector of the boreal vegetationzone.
A high altitude land district characterizedby its hilly relief, fairly high altitude,recurrent rocky outcrops and thin soilcover.
In the black spruce-moss domain, high altitudehas a significant impact on vegetation levels,fostering the presence of ecological types usual-ly found in more northerly bioclimatic domains,such as the forest tundra.
Ecological subregion formed by hillocks inthe northern temperate vegetation zone.
A regional landscape com-posed of rounded hills in thesouthern portion of the north-ern temperate vegetationzone.
Some sectors of the boreal vegetationzone are characterized by the presence oflarge lakes and extensive areas of barerock.
An ecological region in the northern por-tion of the black spruce-moss domain. Insome places the forest cover is less dense,and frequent forest fires cause breaches inthe canopy.
A landscape charac-terized by extensiveblack spruce foreststypical of the east-ern black spruce-moss subdomain.This subdomain isdistinguished fromits western counter-part by its moreabundant precipita-tion, among otherthings.
A typical landscape in theeastern sugar maple-yellowbirch subdomain.
Black spruce forests are characteristic ofthe black spruce-moss domain.
The mixed forests cover the northern por-tion of the northern temperate vegetationzone.
The Arctic vegetation zone is characterizedby low-growth bush, grass, moss andlichen formations.
THE ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION HIERARCHY
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchydescribes the diversity and distribution ofecosystems characteristic of Québec as a whole,from the hardwood forest landscapes in theextreme south of Québec to the Arctic tundra inthe north. It is composed of eleven levels, illus-trated by maps to different scales, groupedfrom south to north, with perfectly coordinatedboundaries. The Hierarchy’s lower levels (e.g.ecological type) provide information on localforest ecosystem dynamics and give a detailedoverview of the forest. They can be used forthe preparation of silvicultural scenarios amongother things. The Hierarchy’s higher levels (e.g.land region, vegetation zone) help situateQuébec at the regional and continental level.They are useful, for example, in producing sum-mary analyses for forest planning and generalforest management strategies.
The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchytakes into account certain ecological variablesrelated to the physical environment, climateand vegetation. Some of its levels are climate-specific or vegetation-specific (vegetationzones), while others are based more on thephysical environment (land districts) or a combi-nation of all these elements (regional land-scapes).
The diagram to the right presents definitions ofthe Hierarchy’s eleven levels and describes theirutility for forestry, land use planning andwildlife purposes.
FROM FOREST TYPE TO VEGETATION ZONE
Jean
-Pie
rre
Sau
cier
, MR
NFP
Lin
a B
reto
n, M
RN
FP
An
dré
Ro
bit
aille
, MR
NFP
And
ré R
obit
aille
, MRN
FP
Pier
re G
ron
din
, MR
NFP
An
dré
Ro
bit
aille
, MR
NFP
Jean
-Fra
nço
is B
erg
ero
n, M
RN
FP
An
dré
Ro
bit
aille
, MR
NFP
Jean
-Fra
nço
is B
erg
ero
n, M
RN
FP
FOREST TYPEDescribes current vegetationbased on physiognomy, treecover and species groups.
An
dré
Ro
bit
aille
, MR
NFP
Jean
-Fra
nço
is B
erg
ero
n, M
RN
FP
An
dré
Ro
bit
aille
, MR
NFP
Jean
-Pie
rre
Sau
cier
, MR
NFP