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. Annually, the portrait is reproduced with the most recent version of the data sources and then published on the Data Québec portal in December.**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).**

[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 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*__. **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 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*__. 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 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 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). __Note that__ 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).**

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 link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. The **Harvest and other silvicultural interventions** mapping is produced as part of the ecoforestry inventory of southern Quebec in order to maintain an up-to-date portrait of the forest. Several stakeholders related to forest operations participate in maintaining this forest portrait, including the Regional Operations Sector of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF), private forest development agencies and major landowners. This map contains information on forest interventions carried out on the territory (e.g. harvesting, thinning, reforestation) as well as the year of work. The period of work begins at the beginning of the 20th century (when information is available) to the present day. The associated information is presented as a series of overlays of interventions. This map covers the commercial territory of public forests and private forests in Quebec. **The minimum mapping area is 0.1 ha. ** __ ⚠️ Note that__ when there is more than one intervention on the same territory during the same year, priority is given to the one that changes the forest cover in a sustainable way (e.g. planting). To have access to all the interventions for the same year (in public forests only), please consult the technical and financial activity reports (RATF) distributed by the Ministry's Regional Operations Sector on the government website of Data Québec. **This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**