Sustainable forest management at FERLD
Sustainable forest management is now recognized to
encompass more than just sustained wood fibre yield.
People and communities are interested in acquiring
multiple benefits from the forest, benefits which correspond
with society’s evolving
values. In the Lake Duparquet Research and Teaching
Forest, we are developing a forest ecosystem management
approach which recognizes these changing values while
building upon the fundamental knowledge base that has
been built up over the last ten years. Ecosystem management
is in part based on the principle that management should
be supported by our understanding of natural disturbance
regimes and ecosystem dynamics.
Given our understanding of natural succession on
mixedwood sites (mainly mesic tills and glacio-lacustrine clays) and the predominance of
these sites in the Lake Duparquet Forest (
Cartier et al. 1996), experimentation of natural or
semi-natural mixedwood silviculture regimes will become an important part of our
management approach. This will include modified cutting regimes, underplanting and seeding
trials, and mixed plantations.
Forest ecosystem
classification and mapping have been an important part of our knowledge base since the
realisation of Bergeron’s original classification (Bergeron et al, 1983). The forest is currently covered by a 1:20,000 integrated forest ecosystem map,
or carte écoforestière, produced by the MRNQ Inventory Service. The forest
ecosystem map presents forest-related information (tree species, stand density, height and
age class) as well as site-level information (surface deposit and depth, drainage and
slope). Stand and site attributes of the forest, as well as information on fire history,
hunting camps, hydrographic information, etc. is inputted, stored and interrogated using a
geographic information system. We are currently completing a 1:50,000 landform map, in
collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Wildlife, and intend to compare the
two mapping approaches. It is worth noting that the Ecological District in which the
Forest is located (Côteaux de la rivière Magusi) is the most representative of
all districts of the entire Ecological Region, in terms of relative area of surface
deposits (Gauthier
et al., 1996). This is an important point with respect to the validity of
extrapolating research results to the rest of the region.
Conservation is another key principle
of our management strategy. Creation of a conservation zone (fire
history map) assures that the natural forest mosaic in this part of the forest will
continue to serve as a benchmark for monitoring management interventions in the Lake
Duparquet Forest and elsewhere in the southern boreal forest. Strategies for maintaining a
variety of forest cover types (intolerant hardwoods, mixedwoods and softwood stands), and
balancing the age class structure in the management zone have been developed in the forest
management plan. Connecting the conservation zone with parts of the management zone to be
left under forest cover (old growth, fragile zones and special habitats), while developing
road access for forest harvesting and silviculture, presents a challenge to our management
team. The presence of over 30 hunting camps and cottages within the Forest’s
boundaries underscores the importance of integrating other forest users’ interests in
the management planning process. Communication and public consultation are key to the
success of management planning and implementation. We will continue to work closely with
industry, local communities and interest groups to ensure that objectives for
conservation, fibre production, wildlife habitat, recreation and research converge toward
a common management goal for the Forest.
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