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*__. **Surface deposit** is the layer of loose material that covers rock. The deposit may have been established during the retreat of the glacier at the end of the last glaciation or by other processes associated with erosion and sedimentation. The nature of the loose deposit is evaluated based on the shape of the land, its position on the slope, the texture of the soil, or other indicators. Surface deposit maps make it possible to distinguish the main categories of surface deposits and to know their nature, thickness and distribution on Quebec territory. Based on the interpretation of aerial photographs at a scale of 1/40,000 and control points in the field as part of the ecoforest inventory of southern Quebec, this mapping contributes in particular to the development of ecological forest products. __ ⚠️ Notes: __ + This map covers almost the entire territory of Quebec south of the 52nd parallel. It is distributed by **map sheet at a scale of 1/50,000.** Surface deposits have a minimum area of 4 ha. **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*__. Formerly, forest maps were produced by the Land Survey Department of the Ministry of Lands and Forests. Some of these maps dating **from 1924 to 1946** still exist and are treasured at the National Archives of Quebec. The information they contain makes it possible to locate and characterize forest areas in certain regions of Quebec. Color codes were then assigned for each of the following classes: young forests, old forests, burned, logged, rocky, savannas, and colonization. **These historical forest maps are available in two digital formats (PDF and TIFF) . ** **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).**

__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 layer of **ecological planning units (UPE) ** constitutes the territorial base at the base of the ecoforest inventory process in southern Quebec (IEQM). It was created and then integrated as part of the current inventory (fifth IEQM). It integrates concepts that are both administrative (forest region) and ecological (ecological region). More precisely, the division is done on an ecological basis within each of the forest regions. It is on this basis that the activities of the IEQM are planned. Each of the layers included in the IEQM monitoring datasets reports on what has been achieved as part of the current inventory. We are talking here about aerial photography, mapping, terrestrial sampling of temporary sample plots, and compilation activities. Each year, new territories are added to each layer to reflect the progress of the work. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

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 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 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 **fourth 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 2004 to 2018. 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*__. Ecoforest maps have been produced at a scale of 1/10,000 since 2025 (previously, they were distributed at a scale of 1/20,000) and illustrate forest information for Quebec territory up to approximately the 52nd parallel. They offer an up-to-date image of the ecoforest map for the year of production. The maps represent the result of the photo-interpretation of aerial photographs taken during the most recent ecoforestry inventory of southern Quebec to which were added natural disturbances (fires, epidemics, windfalls, etc.) and forest interventions (harvesting, thinning and reforestation) carried out in the public forest following the year in which they were taken. Vegetation information specific to each stand is expressed in detailed species (AIPF) when information is available for a complete sheet. Otherwise, vegetation is expressed as a group of species. Each map at a scale of **1/10,000** covers an average area of approximately **62.5 km²** and presents forest information for the target territory. Its accuracy is approximately ± 5 m. Each map at a scale of **1/20,000** covers an average area of approximately **250 km²** and presents forest information for the target territory. Its accuracy is approximately ± 10 m. ## Descriptions of maps and components ### 2025 maps: + Scale (1/10,000); + Replacing the BDTQ level curves with those from the lidar; + Characterization of vegetation by detailed species (AIPF) or by grouping of species, depending on the availability of information; + Maps based on up-to-date ecoforest maps from the 4th and 5th inventories. ### Maps 2021 to 2024: + Scale (1/20,000); + Characterization of vegetation by detailed species (AIPF) or by grouping of species, depending on the availability of information; + Maps based on up-to-date ecoforest maps from the 4th and 5th inventories. ### 2019 and 2020 maps: + Scale (1/20,000); + Characterization of vegetation by grouping of species; + Maps based on up-to-date ecoforest maps from the 4th and 5th inventories. ### 2015 maps: + Scale (1/20,000); + Characterization of vegetation by grouping of species; + Maps based on up-to-date ecoforest maps from the 3rd and 4th inventories. ## ⚠️ Notes: + Forest codes vary depending on the inventory; **consult the legend** of the map. + The maps are **georeferenced** and optimized for printing. + **AIPF**: The AIPF (**forest stand inventory approach**) is a method used in Quebec for ecoforest stratification to classify forests according to their populations and including updates compared to previous inventories.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

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 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 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 **fifth 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 began in 2017. This database covers part 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).**