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).**

[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 planning unit (UA) is a territorial reference unit that applies to forest territories in the domain of the State under article 13 of the Sustainable Forest Development Act (LADTF). There are currently 57 AU on Quebec's public forest territory. The sustainable forest management strategy provides guidelines and objectives for sustainable forest management for this forest area. The purpose of this delimitation of forest territory is to define areas for the production of resources. Thus, the Minister can grant various forest rights in this territory, such as guarantees of supply (GA), harvesting permits in order to supply a commercial wood processing plant (PRAU), harvesting permits in order to supply a non-commercial wood processing plant, i.e. forest biomass (PRBIO), permits for maple syrup farms (mixed production), permits for blueberry fields (forests) blueberry), mining rights permits (mining concessions) and legal protections for the forests of experimentation (FE). This AU delimitation has been in force since April 1, 2023 and comes from the MRNF STF system, which is the __official source__ of this geographic information.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

Territorial division used by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) within which the market value of standing wood (VMBSP) calculated by the Wood Marketing Bureau (BMMB) is required for wood of a given species and quality, which must be uniform. This delimitation of forest pricing zones has been in force since April 1, 2019.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

A territorial unit applicable on the forest territory of the State that can include one to several management units (UA), only RGA 05 and 14 include an AU. In an RGA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) allocates “Supply Guarantee” (GA) wood volumes to beneficiaries. The Sustainable Forest Development Act (LADTF) provides that the supply guarantee (GA) gives its beneficiary the right to annually buy a volume of wood from public forest territories of one or more RGAs, in order to supply the wood processing plant for which this guarantee is granted. The guarantee indicates the annual volumes of wood, by species or group of species, that can be purchased annually by the beneficiary, from each of the regions covered by the guarantee. This data comes from the MRNF STF system, which is the __official source__ of this geographic information. For more information on the list of beneficiaries with their volume assignments by RGA, please consult the [tables by region.] (https://diffusion.mern.gouv.qc.ca/public/DGAB/Registre_public/02_Repertoire_beneficiaires/)**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

Forest producers' unions are non-profit organizations that bring together forest owners in their region. The mission of these organizations is to promote, defend and protect the socio-economic interests of forest owners. Under various names, 13 unions or offices of forest producers are present across Quebec and are affiliated to the [Federation of Quebec Forest Producers (FPFQ)] (https://www.foretprivee.ca/). Unions or agencies administer a regional joint plan that regulates the marketing of forest products from private lands. This numerical information is for illustrative purposes only. Legally, territorial boundaries are described in the regulations of each regional joint plan of forest producers adopted under the Act Respecting the Marketing of Agricultural, Food and Fishery Products. If in doubt, please check with the forest producers' union in your region. Refer to https: [//www.foretprivee.ca/jamenage-ma-foret/intervenants-en-foret-privee/syndicats-offices-de-producteurs-forestiers/] (//www.foretprivee.ca/jamenage-ma-foret/intervenants-en-foret-privee/syndicats-offices-de-producteurs-forestiers/)**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

This data shows the names of accredited independent forest advisers who work throughout the territory covered by the various agencies. Independent forest advisors accredited by regional private forest development agencies deliver the Private Forest Development Assistance Program (PAMVFP) by offering forest management services to forest producers throughout the territory of the agency that accredits them. To find out about all the forest consultants offering management services on your property, contact the regional agency in your region. To learn more about the PAMVFP, visit the [Financial assistance to develop your woodlot] page (https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/forets/proprietaires-forets-privees/aide-financiere/programme-mise-en-valeur) on the Government of Quebec website (quebec.ca). For more information on private forest partners, consult the [Organizations active in private forest] page. (https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/forets/proprietaires-forets-privees/organismes-foret-privee)**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

Territories in the domain of the State over which granted rights include wood volume assignments defined by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF). There are different types of rights granted according to the purpose (s) of use (s): -Guarantees of supply (GA), wood harvesting permits for the purpose of supplying a wood processing plant (PRAU), biomass PRAU (PRBIO) and delegation agreements (ED) and delegation agreements (ED) on the local forest (FP) or on residual forest territories allow forest management activities according to the various documents legal issues issued by the MRNF. -Education and Research Forests (FER) allow forest management activities for teaching and research purposes according to the contract issued by the MRNF. -The Duchesnay Forest Station (STF) allows forest management activities for teaching, research and tourism purposes according to the contract issued by the MRNF. -Territorial management agreements (CGT) on residual forest territories allow forest management activities and land management in accordance with the agreement issued by the MRNF. -Category 1 (TC1) lands are subject to property rights under conditions dedicated to Indigenous nations under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and provide a framework for forest management activities. __Important:__ The MRNF does not issue any forest rights on these lands but the volume associated with the forest possibility of these lands is recorded in the SYMPA system. These territorial data come from the MRNF STF system, which is __the official source__ of this geographic information, except for residual forest territories with management agreements (CGT) as well as category 1 land (TC1). Active __granted rights__ are established according to the MRNF SYMPA system. It is possible to identify the various beneficiaries __of active rights only__, i.e. from the STF_beneficiaries table. This table is fed by the SYMPA system, which establishes forest rights and the volumes allocated to them. Correspondence between a territory under granted law and the beneficiaries is possible by relating the table and the data set by the territory number (NO_TERRI).**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

This product is represented by a polygonal layer covering the territory served by forest groups. Forest groups accredited by regional private forest development agencies deliver the Private Forest Development Assistance Program (PAMVFP) by offering forest management services to forest producers in exclusive territories. To find out about all the forest groups offering management services on your property, contact the regional agency in your region. For more information about __PAMVFP__, consult: [Financial assistance to develop your woodlot | Gouvernment du Québec (quebec.ca).] (https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/forets/proprietaires-forets-privees/aide-financiere/programme-mise-en-valeur) For more information on private forest partners: https://www.quebec.ca/agriculture-environnement-et-ressources-naturelles/forets/proprietaires-forets-privees/organismes-foret-privee**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

Biological refuges are small forest areas located on the domain of the State and permanently removed from forest management activities in order to maintain the biological diversity associated with old forests. Their management is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF). Forest management activities are prohibited on the territory of a biological refuge, with few exceptions. There are currently 3,704 biological refuges in Quebec, distributed relatively uniformly throughout managed forests in the domain of the State. Biological refuges can be designated under the Sustainable Forest Development Act (LADTF, chapter A-18.1) or in draft before legal designation. Legally designated organic refuges make up the vast majority. They are exempt from industrial activities, which allows them to be registered in the Quebec Register of Protected Areas (RAP) maintained by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP). This data comes from the MRNF STF system, which is the __official source__ of this geographic information.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**