Program Co-ordinator: Daniel Houle

Context

The forest covers about half of Quebec, or 757 900 km² :

• Mainly on the Laurentian plateau.
• Mostly coniferous, or taiga.
• Home to about 500,000 people.
• Represents a vital economic resource for some inhabitants.

The potential impacts of climate change on forests include:

• Increased risk from pathogens (diseases, insect pests).
• Increased frequency of extreme climate events (fires, ice storms).
• Changes in:
  • forest productivity and growth
  • biodiversity and migration of tree species
  • forestry operations.

Objectives

• Assess the extent of potential climate change impacts on forest resources.
• Define the best possible adaptation strategies to mitigate effects on different local and regional users in Quebec.

Research projects

• Productivity
• Follow-up to productivity study
• Natural disturbances 
• Adaptation of deciduous forests
• Fir and spruce growth