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The Lake Duparquet Research and Teaching Forest (FERLD) is centrally located in
the Boreal Shield Ecozone (approx. 48°30' N, 79°22' W). While the FERLD was only
officially created by the government of Quebec in 1996, research in forest ecology began
in the area in the late seventies. Since the mid-80s, an active
research program has been underway in the research
forest, led by the GREF- Interuniversitaire
of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and
URDFAT of the Université du Québec en
Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). The 8,045 hectare
forest is managed by UQAM and UQAT and representatives from two forest companies,
Tembec Forest Products Group and Norbord Industries (Nexfor), sit on the management committee. About 75
% of the land base is devoted to developing, applying and demonstrating ecosystem
management in the boreal mixed-wood, while 25% of the area, containing forests which have
originated from a dozen different fires dating from 1760 to 1944, serves as a natural
benchmark for monitoring (Fire history map). This will
enable comparison of ecosystem composition, structure and processes of managed and natural
forests.
MISSION
The mission of the Lake Duparquet Forest is develop, through research,
experimentation and demonstration, forest management and silvicultural practices that
respect the function of the natural milieu while taking into consideration socio-economic
expectations.
OBJECTIVES
- To favour integration of basic and applied research as while the transfer and
application of knowledge toward forest management practices by undertaking innovative
silvicultural field trials and management activities;
- To insure for long-term research and monitoring, the conservation of representative
natural areas and the protection of experimental sites;
- To manage the forest for teaching purposes in the application of sustainable forest
management;
- To favour a joint and integrated management framework (industry-university) which
facilitates planning and implementation of plans adapted to multiple use and
sustainability of all land resources;
- To formalize the collaboration between UQAM et UQAT and to favour the integration of
other research organizations in the Forest;
- In association with regional partners, develop the potential of the Forest for nature
and forestry interpretation.
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