The portrait of forest cover in Quebec 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*__. 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 from [0 to 3]% • B - Low from] 3 to 8]% • C - Soft from] 8 to 15]% • D - Moderate from] 15 to 30]% • E - Strong from] 15 to 30]% • E - Strong from] 30 to 40]% • B - Low from] 3 to 8]% • C - Soft from] 8 to 15]% • D - Moderate from] 15 to 30]% • E - Strong from] 15 to 30]% • E - Strong from] 30 to 40]% • E - Strong from] 30 to 40]% • F - Steep from] 40 to 40]% • F - Steep from] 40 to ∞ [% • S — Summit entirely surrounded by slopes F 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 Forest Inventory Directorate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) began, in 2021, the production of data that indicates the strength of forest vegetation based on the NBR vegetation index * (Normalized Burn Ratio) *. These data are produced from images from Sentinel-2A/B satellites. The purpose of the layer thus produced is to present a regional portrait, at a given date, of the strength of forest vegetation, at the pixel scale. Before integrating these data into forest planning, it is recommended to plan validation work by photo-interpretation or by means of field visits. It should also be noted that these data are complementary to the other existing data layers (ecoforestry data, fires, harvesting and reforestation, defoliation records from aerial overflights, etc.).**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 carefully preserved in 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*__. 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://mffp.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 results of compilations by Forel constitute one of the deliverables of the ecoforest inventory in southern Quebec. These results are used to produce forest compilations by stand associated with the original ecoforest map. The forel corresponds to a forest pixel with a resolution of 20 meters by 20 meters. These results are presented in the form of matrix mapping (image in raster format) to assess the variability of the various dendrometric characteristics within the same forest stand. Here is the list of variables presented in this map: gross market volume per hectare, basal area per hectare and number of stems per hectare. These results are intended to provide small-scale information that can, among other things, support the planning of forest operations. They cover ecoforest stands of 7 m or more in height. For commercial stems, a separate matrix file is produced for each of the three variables and each of the species, allocation groups, types of species and for the total all species. For saplings (stems of 9 cm or less in diameter), only results for basal area and the number of stems per hectare for species types and for the total of all species are produced. The information contained in this map is an image of the forest in the year the aerial photograph was taken. The results of this forest compilation method will eventually cover most of the territory south of the 52nd parallel. When achieved, the results are disseminated by planning unit (AU) for the territories produced under the fourth inventory and by ecological planning unit (UPE) for the territories produced as part of the fifth inventory. Note: • Consult the [original ecoforest map and inventory results] (https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/resultats-d-inventaire-et-carte-ecoforestiere) for the results of forest compilations by population, also available on Data Quebec.**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. 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).**

[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).**

Local service points are the preferred communication channel for the main local clienteles with the minister's representatives. Staff provide forest services provided by the Department and implement departmental programs. Each management unit office is associated with a territory, and the same office can house two different management units. In addition, due to the size of the territory, a management unit may from time to time have local offices under its responsibility in order to facilitate forest management.**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 in southern Quebec. 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 and will be completed in 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).**