The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchy is one of the information tools used to plan forestoperations and prepare management plans in conformity with the principles of biodiversity conser-vation and sustainable development. The system enables forest managers to apply an integratedresource management approach to their planning activities. It is based on a forest heritage devel-opment perspective that should be adopted by all public and private forest managers and stake-holders.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS AND DOCUMENTS

AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL

• Integrated forest inventory maps to a scale of 1:20,000 showing ecological types, surface deposits and drainage

• Surficial deposit maps to a scale of 1:50,000

• Land district maps to a scale of 1:250,000 and fact sheets

• Maps of southern Québec’s regional landscapes to a scale of 1:1,250,000 and fact sheets

• Maps of southern Québec’s land regions and subregions to a scale of 1:1,250,000

• Maps of Québec’s bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones

• Ecological classification reports by bioclimatic domain

• Field guides for identifying ecological typesby land region

__________Note: All these products, except for the map of bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones, cover southern Québec only.

MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLESDE LA FAUNE ET DES PARCSDirection des inventaires forestiers

880, chemin Sainte-Foy, 3e étageQuébec (Québec) G1S 4X4Telephone : (418) 627-8669 Toll-free : 1 877 9FORÊTS (1 877-936-7387)Fax : (418) 644-9672

www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.cainventaires.forestiers@mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca

The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchy and its deriv-atives were made possible by the efforts of many peoplewho have worked on this vast project over the years, andcontinue to do so. They include: Denis Alain, ChristianBédard, Jean-Pierre Berger, Jean-François Bergeron*,Jacques Blouin, Hélène D’Avignon, André Faucher,Caroline Flaschner, Claude Gagné, Jocelyn Gosselin,Pierre Grondin*, Yves Landry, Pierre Leboeuf, GaétanLord, Anne Morissette, Jean Noël, Philippe Racine, DenisRobert*, André Robitaille*, Normand Routhier, Jean-Pierre Saucier*, Lynda Simard, Sylvie Tremblay, ÉricVaillancourt. Many other people were also involved indata collection and analysis.

* Responsible for concept development and methods.

� Gouvernement du QuébecMinistère des Ressources naturelles,de la Faune et des Parcs, 2003

Distribution Code: 2003-3064

RS25S (or RE25S)

RS22M

RE20

LAC RIVAILLE HILLOCKS (98W013)

LAC BOUCHETTE (95)

LAC AUX RATS (96)

LAC D'ANVILLE (97)

LAC

SIMO

NC

OU

CH

EH

ILLS (5D-M

)

LAC O

NA

TCHIW

AY

HILLS (5D

-T)

LAC CO

NN

ELLY (98)

LAC

ON

ATC

HIW

AY

(99)

EASTER

N

BA

LSAM

FIR

-WH

ITE BIR

CH

WESTERN

BALSA

M

FIR-WH

ITE BIRCH

BO

REA

L

AR

CTIC

SPRUCE-M

OSS D

OM

AIN

PIPMU

ACA

N RESERV

OIR (100)

HILLS SU

RROU

ND

ING

LAC SA

INT-JEA

N (5D

)

HA

UT SA

INT-M

AU

RICE

HILLS (5C)

GO

UIN

RESERVO

IR

HILLO

CKS (5B)

ABITIBI PLA

INS (5A

)

LAC MALFAIT HIGH HILLS (98V009)

LAC DOUCET HIGH HILLS (98V010)

LAC ÉTO

ILE HILLS (98V

011)

LAC

DES A

IGLES H

ILLS (98V012)

LAC

DE L'O

UEST H

ILLOC

KS (98V

013)

LAC PRO

ULX

HILLO

CKS (98V

014)

LAC BERNABÉ HILLS (98V015)

PÉRIBONKA RIVER VALLEY (98V016)

RE22

RE37 (or RS37)RE39 (or RS39)RE38 (or RS38)RE25

RE24

RE21 (o

r RE11)

RS21

MS21

MS25

MS22 (or M

S62)

MS20 (or M

S60)

RS20

MS12

MS15

RS38RS25

RS22

CON

TINU

OU

S BOREA

L

FOREST

TAIG

A

FOREST TU

ND

RA

NO

RTHERN

TEMPERATE

LAKE

BA

LSAM

FIR-W

HITE B

IRC

H

A HOST OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

THE MRNFP’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM INFORMATION PROGRAM

The purpose of the Ecological LandClassification Hierarchyis to describe the diversity anddistribution of Québec’s ecosystems. It is one of thenumerous elements that make up the ForestEcosystem Information Programmaintained by theMinistère des Ressources naturelles, de la Faune et desParcs. The program also includes ecosystem mappingactivities at different scales, as well as ecological anddendometric surveys and data compilations.

The diagram to the right illustrates the structure andinterconnections of the Ecological Land ClassificationHierarchy.

New applications of the EcologicalLand Classification Hierarchyaredeveloped constantly as plannersuse its derivative products andapply its various levels to forestmanagement needs. For example,connections have been identifiedbetween vertical tree growth andbiophysical features, especiallyecological type, within ecologicalregions. Projects such as this onehave fostered the use of ecologic-al information in the preparationof silvicultural scenarios and forestmanagement plans. The MRNFPhas also produced a map of areassensitive to rutting after loggingin forest wetlands. The map,based on regional landscapes, isdesigned to help with the monit-oring of work in Québec’s mostsensitive sectors. In recent years,derivative products from the hier-archy have also been used byother agencies for research intowildlife habitats, landscapes andland use planning.

VEGETATION ZONE

VEGETATIONSUBZONE

BIOCLIMATICDOMAIN

BIOCLIMATICSUBDOMAIN

LAND REGION

LAND SUBREGION

REGIONALLANDSCAPE

LAND DISTRICT ANDALTITUDINAL

VEGETATION LEVEL

ECOLOGICAL TYPEAND FOREST TYPE

RéservoirPipmuacan

FleuveSaint-Laurent

LacSaint-Jean

LacSaint-Jean

RéservoirPipmuacan

FleuveSaint-Laurent

LacSaint-Jean

RéservoirPipmuacan

PetiteRivière

Péribo

nka

PetiteRiv

ièrePérib

on

ka

RE39

Boreal vegetation zone

Continuous boreal forest

Balsam fir-white birch

Western balsam fir-white birch

Hills around Lac-Saint-Jean

Lac Onatchiway Hills

Lac Connelly

Lac Étoile HillsNote: Level not shown

RE39: Black spruce-sphagnum on verypoorly drained organic soilNote: Forest type not shown

CH

RIS

TIA

NE

LEC

LER

C C

OM

MU

NIC

ATI

ON

The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchyis one of the information tools used to plan forestoperations and prepare management plans in conformity with the principles of biodiversity conser-vation and sustainable development. The system enables forest managers to apply an integratedresource management approach to their planning activities. It is based on a forest heritage devel-opment perspective that should be adopted by all public and private forest managers and stake-holders.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS AND DOCUMENTS

AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL

•Integrated forest inventory maps to a scale of 1:20,000 showing ecological types, surface deposits and drainage

•Surficial deposit maps to a scale of 1:50,000

•Land district maps to a scale of 1:250,000 and fact sheets

•Maps of southern Québec’s regional landscapes to a scale of 1:1,250,000 and fact sheets

•Maps of southern Québec’s land regions and subregions to a scale of 1:1,250,000

•Maps of Québec’s bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones

•Ecological classification reports by bioclimatic domain

•Field guides for identifying ecological typesby land region

__________Note: All these products, except for the map of bioclimatic domains and vegetation zones, cover southern Québec only.

MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLESDE LA FAUNE ET DES PARCSDirection des inventaires forestiers

880, chemin Sainte-Foy, 3eétageQuébec (Québec) G1S 4X4Telephone : (418) 627-8669 Toll-free : 1 877 9FORÊTS (1 877-936-7387)Fax : (418) 644-9672

www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.cainventaires.forestiers@mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca

The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchyand its deriv-atives were made possible by the efforts of many peoplewho have worked on this vast project over the years, andcontinue to do so. They include: Denis Alain, ChristianBédard, Jean-Pierre Berger, Jean-François Bergeron*,Jacques Blouin, Hélène D’Avignon, André Faucher,Caroline Flaschner, Claude Gagné, Jocelyn Gosselin,Pierre Grondin*, Yves Landry, Pierre Leboeuf, GaétanLord, Anne Morissette, Jean Noël, Philippe Racine, DenisRobert*, André Robitaille*, Normand Routhier, Jean-Pierre Saucier*, Lynda Simard, Sylvie Tremblay, ÉricVaillancourt. Many other people were also involved indata collection and analysis.

* Responsible for concept development and methods.

� Gouvernement du QuébecMinistère des Ressources naturelles,de la Faune et des Parcs, 2003

Distribution Code: 2003-3064

RS25S

(or R

E25S

)

RS22M

RE20

LAC RIV

AILLE H

ILLOCKS (9

8W013)

LAC BOUCHETTE (95)

LAC A

UX RATS (96)

LAC D

'ANVILL

E (9

7)

LAC

SIM

ON

CO

UC

HE

HIL

LS (

5D-M

)

LA

C O

NA

TCH

IWA

Y

HIL

LS (5

D-T

)

LAC

CON

NEL

LY (9

8)

LAC

ON

ATC

HIW

AY

(99

)

EAST

ERN

B

ALS

AM

FI

R-W

HIT

E B

IRC

H

WES

TERN

BA

LSA

M

FIR-

WH

ITE

BIRC

H

BO

REA

L

AR

CTI

C

SPRU

CE-M

OSS

DO

MA

IN

PIPM

UA

CAN

RES

ERV

OIR

(100

)

HIL

LS S

URR

OU

ND

ING

LAC

SAIN

T-JE

AN

(5D

)

HA

UT

SAIN

T-M

AU

RICE

HIL

LS (5

C)

GO

UIN

RES

ERV

OIR

HIL

LOCK

S (5

B)

ABI

TIBI

PLA

INS

(5A

)

LAC M

ALFAIT

HIGH H

ILLS (

98V00

9)

LAC

DOUC

ET H

IGH

HILL

S (9

8V01

0)

LAC

ÉTO

ILE

HIL

LS (9

8V01

1)

LAC

DES

AIG

LES

HIL

LS (

98V

012)

LAC

DE

L'O

UES

T H

ILLO

CK

S (9

8V01

3)

LAC

PRO

ULX

HIL

LOCK

S (9

8V01

4)

LAC

BERN

ABÉ H

ILLS

(98V

015)

PÉRIB

ONKA RIV

ER V

ALLEY

(98V

016)

RE22

RE37

(or R

S37)

RE39

(or R

S39)

RE38

(or R

S38)

RE25

RE24

RE2

1 (o

r R

E11)

RS2

1

MS2

1

MS2

5

MS2

2 (o

r M

S62)

MS2

0 (o

r M

S60)

RS20

MS1

2

MS1

5

RS38

RS25

RS22

CO

NTI

NU

OU

S BO

REA

L

FORE

ST

TAIG

A

FORE

ST T

UN

DRA

NO

RTH

ERN

TEM

PERA

TE

LAKE

BA

LSA

MFI

R-W

HIT

E B

IRC

H

A HOST OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

THE MRNFP’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM INFORMATION PROGRAM

The purpose of the Ecological LandClassification Hierarchy is to describe the diversity anddistribution of Québec’s ecosystems. It is one of thenumerous elements that make up the ForestEcosystem Information Program maintained by theMinistère des Ressources naturelles, de la Faune et desParcs. The program also includes ecosystem mappingactivities at different scales, as well as ecological anddendometric surveys and data compilations.

The diagram to the right illustrates the structure andinterconnections of the Ecological Land ClassificationHierarchy.

New applications of the EcologicalLand Classification Hierarchy aredeveloped constantly as plannersuse its derivative products andapply its various levels to forestmanagement needs. For example,connections have been identifiedbetween vertical tree growth andbiophysical features, especiallyecological type, within ecologicalregions. Projects such as this onehave fostered the use of ecologic-al information in the preparationof silvicultural scenarios and forestmanagement plans. The MRNFPhas also produced a map of areassensitive to rutting after loggingin forest wetlands. The map,based on regional landscapes, isdesigned to help with the monit-oring of work in Québec’s mostsensitive sectors. In recent years,derivative products from the hier-archy have also been used byother agencies for research intowildlife habitats, landscapes andland use planning.

VEGETATION ZONE

VEGETATIONSUBZONE

BIOCLIMATICDOMAIN

BIOCLIMATICSUBDOMAIN

LAND REGION

LAND SUBREGION

REGIONALLANDSCAPE

LAND DISTRICT ANDALTITUDINAL

VEGETATION LEVEL

ECOLOGICAL TYPEAND FOREST TYPE

RéservoirPipmuacan

Fleuve

Sain

t-Lau

rent

LacSaint-Jean

LacSaint-Jean

RéservoirPipmuacan

Fleuve

Sain

t-Lau

rent

LacSaint-Jean

RéservoirPipmuacan

Petit

eRi

vi

ère

Péri

bo

nka

Peti

teRi

viè

rePé

rib

on

ka

RE39

Boreal vegetation zone

Continuous boreal forest

Balsam fir-white birch

Western balsam fir-white birch

Hills around Lac-Saint-Jean

Lac Onatchiway Hills

Lac Connelly

Lac Étoile HillsNote: Level not shown

RE39: Black spruce-sphagnum on verypoorly drained organic soilNote: Forest type not shown

CH

RISTIA

NE LEC

LERC

CO

MM

UN

ICA

TION

INTEREST

Forests

• Forest management

• Silvicultural planning

• Allowable annual cut calculations

• Research on growth and yield tables by ecological type

Land Use Planning

• Location of exceptional and rare forest ecosystems

• Creation of nature interpretation trails

Wildlife

• Location of hunting areas

• Research into wildlife habitats

ALTIDUDINAL VEGETATION LEVELAn area in which altitude has such a signifi-cant impact on climate that it changes thestructure and sometimes the type of vegeta-tion, causing it to resemble that of morenortherly regions.

REGIONAL LANDSCAPEAn area characterized bya recurrent arrangementof the principal permanent ecologicalfactors and vegetation.

INTEREST

Forests

• Planning and management of forest roads

• Limitations to forest operations (presence of steep slopes, hydrographic density, etc.)

• Location of gravel and sand pits

Land Use Planning

• Regional development plans, municipal urban development plans

• Integrated management for drainage basins, especially with regard to the hydrological behaviour of watercourses

Wildlife

• Location and distribution of northern plant and animal species in southern Québec

INTEREST

Forests

• Constitution of survey units for ecoforest surveys

• Location of forest wetlands likely to be disturbed by forest operations

Land Use Planning

• Potential for and limitations on land use planning (farming, urban development, etc.)

• Planning of leisure and tourist developments

Wildlife

• Environmental analyses

• Research on forest mosaics resulting from interactions between vegetation and natural disturbances.

LAND SUBREGIONA portion of a landregion where the vege-tation growing on mesicsites is typical of eitherthe bioclimatic domainto which it belongs, or ofmore southerly or morenortherly areas.

LAND REGIONAn area characterizedby the compositionand dynamics of thevegetation growing onmesic sites, and by thedistribution of ecologi-cal types within thelandscape.

INTEREST

Forests

• Illustrates the distributionof ecological types used for ecoforest photo-interpretation

• Identification of rules for the displacement and origin of forest seeds and plants seedlings

Land Use Planning

• Location and creation of provincial parks

Wildlife

• Regional location of sites suitable for wildlife (moose, white-tailed deer, wolf, etc.)

ECOLOGICAL TYPEA local sector exhibiting apermanent combinationof potential vegetationand physical features.

LAND DISTRICTA sector characterized by a unique pattern ofrelief, geology, geomorphology and regionalvegetation.

BIOCLIMATIC SUBDOMAINA portion of a bioclimatic domain exhibitingdistinct vegetation patterns reflecting differ-ences in precipitation types and levels.

INTEREST

Forests

• Analysis of the distribution and extent of forest fires and natural disturbances (e.g. spruce budworm infestations)

Land Use Planning

• Location and creation of provincial parks

Wildlife

• Distribution of bird nesting areas (e.g. Atlas of Nesting Birds in Southern Québec)

BIOCLIMATIC DOMAINAn area characterized by a particular type ofvegetation in the finalstage of succession,reflecting the balancebetween climate andpotential vegetation on mesic sites.

VEGETATION SUBZONEA portion of a vegetationzone characterized by thedominant vegetationphysiognomy at the finalstage of succession.

VEGETATION ZONELarge continental-scale areacharacterized by its plant for-mation physiognomy.

INTEREST

Forests• General climatic research and links with

the major vegetation zones

• Research into wildlife distribution and large-scale migrations (e.g. caribou)

Sugar maple-basswood forest located in thesouthern portion of the northern temperatevegetation zone.

Black spruce trees are characteristic of theblack spruce-sphagnum forests typicallyfound in poor, badly drained areas in thesouthern sector of the boreal vegetationzone.

A high altitude land district characterizedby its hilly relief, fairly high altitude,recurrent rocky outcrops and thin soilcover.

In the black spruce-moss domain, high altitudehas a significant impact on vegetation levels,fostering the presence of ecological types usual-ly found in more northerly bioclimatic domains,such as the forest tundra.

Ecological subregion formed by hillocks inthe northern temperate vegetation zone.

A regional landscape com-posed of rounded hills in thesouthern portion of the north-ern temperate vegetationzone.

Some sectors of the boreal vegetationzone are characterized by the presence oflarge lakes and extensive areas of barerock.

An ecological region in the northern por-tion of the black spruce-moss domain. Insome places the forest cover is less dense,and frequent forest fires cause breaches inthe canopy.

A landscape charac-terized by extensiveblack spruce foreststypical of the east-ern black spruce-moss subdomain.This subdomain isdistinguished fromits western counter-part by its moreabundant precipita-tion, among otherthings.

A typical landscape in theeastern sugar maple-yellowbirch subdomain.

Black spruce forests are characteristic ofthe black spruce-moss domain.

The mixed forests cover the northern por-tion of the northern temperate vegetationzone.

The Arctic vegetation zone is characterizedby low-growth bush, grass, moss andlichen formations.

THE ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION HIERARCHY

The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchydescribes the diversity and distribution ofecosystems characteristic of Québec as a whole,from the hardwood forest landscapes in theextreme south of Québec to the Arctic tundra inthe north. It is composed of eleven levels, illus-trated by maps to different scales, groupedfrom south to north, with perfectly coordinatedboundaries. The Hierarchy’s lower levels (e.g.ecological type) provide information on localforest ecosystem dynamics and give a detailedoverview of the forest. They can be used forthe preparation of silvicultural scenarios amongother things. The Hierarchy’s higher levels (e.g.land region, vegetation zone) help situateQuébec at the regional and continental level.They are useful, for example, in producing sum-mary analyses for forest planning and generalforest management strategies.

The Ecological Land Classification Hierarchytakes into account certain ecological variablesrelated to the physical environment, climateand vegetation. Some of its levels are climate-specific or vegetation-specific (vegetationzones), while others are based more on thephysical environment (land districts) or a combi-nation of all these elements (regional land-scapes).

The diagram to the right presents definitions ofthe Hierarchy’s eleven levels and describes theirutility for forestry, land use planning andwildlife purposes.

FROM FOREST TYPE TO VEGETATION ZONE

Jean

-Pie

rre

Sau

cier

, MR

NFP

Lin

a B

reto

n, M

RN

FP

An

dré

Ro

bit

aille

, MR

NFP

And

ré R

obit

aille

, MRN

FP

Pier

re G

ron

din

, MR

NFP

An

dré

Ro

bit

aille

, MR

NFP

Jean

-Fra

nço

is B

erg

ero

n, M

RN

FP

An

dré

Ro

bit

aille

, MR

NFP

Jean

-Fra

nço

is B

erg

ero

n, M

RN

FP

FOREST TYPEDescribes current vegetationbased on physiognomy, treecover and species groups.

An

dré

Ro

bit

aille

, MR

NFP

Jean

-Fra

nço

is B

erg

ero

n, M

RN

FP

An

dré

Ro

bit

aille

, MR

NFP

Jean

-Pie

rre

Sau

cier

, MR

NFP