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*__. 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 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).**

[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 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).**

__The link: *Access the data directory* is available in the section*Dataset Description Sheets; Additional Information*__. Ecoforest maps in PDF format are available at a scale of 1/20,000 and cover Quebec territory approximately up to the 52nd parallel. Each map covers an average area of approximately 250 km2 and presents forest information for the territory concerned. Its accuracy is approximately 10 meters. These maps are an image of the current ecoforest map for the corresponding year. __2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 cards__ The 2021, 2022, 2023 maps, as well as those of 2024, are produced from the current ecoforest map of the corresponding year. It represents the result of the photo-interpretation of aerial photographs taken during the 4th and 5th ecoforestry inventories of southern Quebec to which were added natural disturbances (fires, epidemics, windfalls, etc.) and forest interventions (harvesting and reforestation) carried out in the public forest following the year in which the picture was taken. According to the maps, data using the forest stand inventory approach (AIPF) is included when available for a complete sheet. Main components: type of vegetation (forest species grouping, density class, height class, age class, etc.) or type of AIPF vegetation (detailed forest species, density (%), height (m), age class, etc.); slope class; type of terrain; nature of the terrain (peatlands, height class, age class, etc.) or type of AIPF vegetation (detailed forest species, density (%), height (m), age class, etc.); slope class; nature of the terrain (peatlands, gravel, etc.); hydrography (lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, etc.); transport network and bridges; topography (level curves); fragmentation. __2019 and 2020 maps__ The 2019 maps, as well as those of 2020, are produced from up-to-date ecoforest maps of the corresponding year. They represent the result of the photo-interpretation of aerial photographs taken during the 4th and 5th ecoforestry inventories of southern Quebec to which were added natural disturbances (fires, epidemics, windfalls, etc.) and forest interventions (harvesting and reforestation) carried out in the public forest following the year in which the photo-interpretation of aerial photographs from the 4th and 5th ecoforestry inventories of southern Quebec were taken. An update is then carried out taking into account natural disturbances (fires, epidemics, windfalls, etc.) and forest interventions (harvesting and reforestation) carried out in public forests. The information presented corresponds to the current ecoforest map of 2019 or 2020 as the case may be. On each map, the name of the stands is expressed by the group of species. Main components: type of vegetation (forest species, density, height, age class, etc.); slope class; type of terrain (peatlands, gravel, etc.); hydrography (lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, etc.); transport network and bridges; topography (level curves); fragmentation. __Maps 2015__ The 2015 maps are produced from the photo-interpretation of aerial photographs from the 3rd and 4th ecoforest inventories of southern Quebec. An update is then carried out taking into account natural disturbances (fires, epidemics, windfalls, etc.) and forest interventions (cutting and planting) carried out in public forests. The information presented corresponds to the 2015 updated ecoforest map. MAP FOR PRINTING (GEOREFERENCED) **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 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 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*__. **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).**