Biological refuges are small forest areas located on the domain of the State and permanently removed from forest management activities in order to maintain the biological diversity associated with old forests. Their management is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF). Forest management activities are prohibited on the territory of a biological refuge, with few exceptions.
There are currently 3,704 biological refuges in Quebec, distributed relatively uniformly throughout managed forests in the domain of the State. Biological refuges can be designated under the Sustainable Forest Development Act (LADTF, chapter A-18.1) or in draft before legal designation.
Legally designated organic refuges make up the vast majority. They are exempt from industrial activities, which allows them to be registered in the Quebec Register of Protected Areas (RAP) maintained by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP).
This data comes from the MRNF STF system, which is the official source of this geographic information.This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).