The **portrait of forest cover in Québec** is an assembly made from the up-to-date ecoforest map of the inventory of southern Quebec and vegetation maps from the northern ecoforest inventory and Northern Quebec. Administrative divisions, forest boundaries and territories where forest management responsibilities and obligations are under the responsibility of the municipal environment are also added. Then, an update is carried out for areas that have a predominant use other than forest, including the road and rail network, energy transmission lines, cultivated land and built environments. The portrait makes it easy to calculate the rate of land use by forests in the territory of a municipality, an unorganized territory, an indigenous territory, an MRC or an administrative region, then to draw up a summary of some main characteristics of the forest.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. **Slope classes** express the slope of the terrain in a relatively homogeneous area with a minimum area of 0.5 ha. They are generated from a numerical model that groups terrain slopes into six classes: + 0-3% zero + Low by 4-8% + 9-15% soft + Moderate by 16-30% + 31-40% strong + Steep by 41% or more These data cover almost all of Quebec south of the 52nd parallel. This map is presented in two groups: grouping at the provincial level and grouping at the scale of 1/250,000. Each grouping represents an assembly of sheets produced on a scale of 1/20,000. The datasets were originally produced in 2005 and then updated in 2006. In 2010, they were enhanced with slope information for the northernmost part. No updates have been made since then. __For more information, please refer to the document: [Products presenting the concept of slope] (https://diffusion.mffp.gouv.qc.ca/Diffusion/DonneeGratuite/Foret/DONNEES_FOR_ECO_SUD/Classes_pente/01-Documentation/Produits_presentant_la_notion_de_pente.pdf) __ __ ⚠️ Notes: __ The numerical terrain model is prepared from the level curves and altitude points that come from the topographic map at a scale of 1/20,000 and 1/50,000 from the Quebec Topographic Database (BDTQ). This geographic database was produced in 2010 and has never been updated. __ 🕰️ Former names:__ Numerical slope classes, Slope class **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

[forest certification] (https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/les-forets/amenagement-durable-forets/certification-forestiere/) is a voluntary process by which an accredited and independent registration body recognizes that forest management practices meet pre-established standards for sustainable forest management. Compliance with the requirements of a certification system is assessed by an external auditor. Two forest certification systems are currently used by the forest industry in Quebec: the [Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)] (https://forests.org/fr/) and the [Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)] (https://ca.fsc.org/ca-fr). A management certificate is granted to a forest area and its scope may extend to one or more management units. Forest certification monitoring is limited to public forests managed under the Quebec forest regime. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: * Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset description sheets; Additional information*__. The forest maps from the first inventory are available at a scale of 1/20,000. They cover almost all of the territory south of the 52nd parallel. Each file covers an area of approximately 250 km2. These digital maps correspond to the black and white paper maps with a dimension of 125 cm X 75 cm that have been digitized and georeferenced. They illustrate forest stands. They were prepared from the photo-interpretation of aerial photos on a scale of 1/15,000. Main components: •outline of forest stands; • type of vegetation (forest species, density, height and stage of development, origin); • disturbances; • nature of the land (peatlands, gravel, etc.); • territorial subdivisions; • hydrography (lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, etc.); • transport network and bridges; • topography (level curves). The units of measurement shown on the maps in the first inventory are those of the English imperial system of measurement. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. **The forest maps in the second inventory** are available at a scale of 1/20,000. They cover almost all of the territory south of the 52nd parallel. Each file covers an area of approximately 250 km2. These digital cards correspond to the black and white paper cards with a dimension of 125 cm X 75 cm that have been scanned. They illustrate forest stands. They were prepared from the photo-interpretation of aerial photos on a scale of 1/15,000. Main components: * outline of forest stands; * sub-groupings of species in all stands; * type of vegetation (forest species, density, height and stage of development, origin); * age class; * disturbances; * nature of the land (peatlands, gravel, etc.); * territorial subdivisions; * hydrography; * transport network and bridges; * topography (level curves); * slope classes; * defoliation class.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The Directorate of Forest Inventories (DIF) carries out assessments of tree biomass and their carbon content at the scale of ecoforest stands to deepen knowledge on the contribution of forests in the global carbon cycle. This information can be useful in the context of climate change to document the mitigating role played by forests. The resulting product, a database containing a single table entitled “BIOMASSE_CARBONE_PEE_ORI_PROV”, shows the biomass and carbon values of living trees above ground for all productive ecoforest stands 7 m or more in height. The exploitation of the database requires the data from [the original ecoforest map] (https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/resultats-d-inventaire-et-carte-ecoforestiere) and the establishment of a connection with the information of the polygonal entity class of settlements. The database includes biomass variables converted to carbon stocks, detailing the biomass of wood, bark, branches, and foliage. For a thorough understanding, you can consult the Read Me associated with this product and the publication [“Biomass and carbon forests in southern Quebec - Method and use”] (https://mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/nos-publications/biomasse-carbone-forestiers-quebec-meridional/) (MRNF, 2023) which offers additional methodological information. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The original ecoforest map of the third inventory is made from aerial photographs as well as several other products to inform the photointerpreter (forest interventions, information concerning natural disturbances, data from previous inventories, etc.). This map shows the various forest and ecological characteristics of the forest territory and corresponds to the forest profile up to the year in which the aerial photograph was taken. To learn more about ecoforest stratification parameters, simply consult Chapter 3 of the document [*Ecoforest Mapping Standards — Third Ecoforest Inventory (MRNF, 2009) *] (https://mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/documents/forets/inventaire/norme-cartographie-ecoforestiere.pdf). __Note that__ the original ecoforest map of the third inventory has been complete since 2003 and that no new cartographic information has been added since then. Note, however, that improvements were made to the dataset format in 2025.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The temporary sample plot is a circular sample unit that covers an area of 400 m2 (the main unit). For each tree, we observe and measure the species, diameter, and stage in relation to other trees, as well as the defoliation and the quality of the stems of deciduous trees and certain pines. In addition, the age and height of three trees are determined. Finally, a survey of the station is carried out. Plot data also includes information about the location of the plots and the sampling plan. These data are acquired as part of the **second forest inventory in southern Québec.** They were used in particular to produce forest compilation results used to feed the calculation of forest opportunities in public forests in Quebec. The establishment of these plots took place between 1980 and 1993. This database covers almost all of the territory south of the 52nd parallel of Quebec's public and private forest. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The polygonal layer of lidar slope classes expresses the slope of the terrain. The slopes are generated from a digital terrain model (DTM) with a resolution of 10 meters. The latter is the result of an aggregation by bilinear interpolation of lidar NCDs at 1 m. The minimum area of the resulting polygons is 0.2 hectares. Lidar digital slopes are divided into 7 classes. + A - Null by [0 to 3]% + B - Low from] 3 to 8]% + C - Soft from] 8 to 15]% + D - Moderate [from] 15 to 30]% + E - Strong from] 30 to 40]% + F - Steep from] 40 to ∞ [% + S — Summit completely surrounded by F slopes This map covers the entire territory of the Southern Quebec Ecoforest Inventory (IEQM) and was developed in order to provide stakeholders with the tools they need when applying for financial assistance from the Forest Management Investment Program (PIAF). __We do not recommend using the information in this layer for detailed analysis. __**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The temporary sample plot is a circular sample unit that covers an area of 400 m2. For each tree, we observe and measure the species, diameter, sunlight, and floor in relation to other trees, as well as defoliation and quality for the stems of deciduous trees and certain pines. In addition, the age and height of three trees are determined. Finally, a survey of the station and the vegetation of the undergrowth is carried out, and the characteristics of the soil are noted. Plot data also includes information about the location of the plots and the sampling plan. These data are acquired as part of the **third ecoforest inventory of southern Québec.** They are used in particular to produce forest compilation results used to feed the calculation of forest opportunities in public forests in Quebec. They can also be useful in the development of private forests. The establishment of these plots took place from 1992 to 2005. This database covers almost all of the territory south of the 52nd parallel of Quebec's public and private forest. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**