Managing for old-growth in Quebec’s boreal forest: how much is enough andhow can adequate levels be maintained?

This project aims to develop guidelines regarding the maintenance of old-growth in the

managed boreal forest. Presently, several institutions, including the Government of Quebec

and the Forest Stewardship Council require that a third of the preindustrial levels of old

growth be maintained on the managed landscape. However, there is little if any scientific

evidence to indicate that this will maintain old-growth species, nor do we know whether the

spatial configuration of remaining old-growth is important. I therefore propose to examine (1)

how much old-growth forest is necessary to maintain old-growth songbird species in the

managed forest, (2) whether the configuration of this old-growth matters, and (3) which

combination of various management practices will help maintain required levels of old

growth. The results of this project will help AbitibiBowater and others involved in boreal forest

management to develop more ecologically-friendly management practices and allow for oldgrowth

species to be maintained in the managed landscape.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pierre Drapeau

Student:

Partner:

Abitibi Bowater

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université du Québec à Montréal

Program:

Accelerate

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