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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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CHARLEVOIX |
 © Photo: Charles Roberge |
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| General Description |
Situated some 80 km east of Quebec City, Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve borders the Saint Lawrence River to the north. Extending from 5 to 1,150 meters above sea level, the area comprises agricultural areas, river ecosystems, estuarine tidal marshes and flats, coniferous and mixed forests, stunted vegetation (krummholz) and mountain tundra ecosystems. About 30,000 people live in the biosphere reserve (1988), which covers 457,000 hectares. In former times, the population of Charlevoix used to rely on the river and the sea, for example on coastal navigation, marine constructions and fisheries (e.g. beluga, eel). Today, the economic landscape has diversified and major factors in the local economy are now forestry, silica mining, agriculture and tourism. The forest education centre ‘Les Palissades’ or the ecological center ‘Port-au-Saumon’ are important institutions for environmental education in the area. A five-year action plan (1999-2003) currently tries to promote the divers goals of a biosphere reserve. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Boreal needleleaf forests or woodlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Maple forests including paper birch (Betula papyriferae), alder (Alnus spp.) and elm (Ulmus spp.) and with an understory of sumac (Rhus typhina), Acer pensylvanicum and Cornus alternifolia; mixed fir (Abies sp.) forest with Corylus cornuta, Sambucus pubens and Taxus canadensis; boreal forests up to an altitude of 300m with fir and spruce (Picea spp.); estuarine tidal marsh and flats dominated by Scirpus americanus meadows including Zizania palustris, Sagittaria cuneata and S. latifolia; tundra with ericaceous zones consisting of Kalmia spp., Ledum groenlandicum; stunted vegetation community (krummolz) with Picea mariana and Abies balsamea; agroecosystems with cereals, fruits and legumes; river ecosystems | |||
| Location | 47°15' to 48°05'N; 69°55' to 71°10'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 560,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | 65,000 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 495,000 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +1,170 | |||
| Year designated | 1988 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Corporation de la reserve mondiale de la biosphere de Charlevoix | |||
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| Brief description |
Atmospheric pollution Geology and geomorphology Soil utilization Aquatic ecosystems (integrated) Biological inventory (fish, mammals, invertebrates, plants) Avian and mammalian population dynamics Long-term ecological monitoring Ethnobiology Multidisciplinary ecosystem characterization Reintroduction/rehabilitation of species Breeding/cultivation programmes Silvicultural/forest management Mapping of the different zones of the biosphere reserve Indicators of sustainability relevant to economic activities: at agricultural and forestry level |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Acidic deposition/Acid rain, geology, geomorphology, pollution, pollutants, soil. | |||
| Biodiversity | Birds, ecology, ecosystem assessment, fishes, invertebrates/insects/spiders, mammals, methodologies, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, reintroduction, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, species inventorying/inventory. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, forestry, indicators of sustainability, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Integrated studies/Interdisciplinaty, interdisciplinary studies, management issues, mapping, planning and zoning measures/zonation. | |||
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| Contact address |
Charles Roberge Réserve de la biosphère de Charlevoix 15, rue des Battures G5A 2P3 G4A 1L1 LA MALBAIE, (QUEBEC) Canada |
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| Telephone | (1.418) 665 4436 | |||
| Fax | (1.418) 439 1228 | |||
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roberge.charles@videotron.ca |
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| Last updated: 26/02/2007 |
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