Vegetation zones
In southern Quebec, from the southern Laurentians to the coastal regions of the Gaspé Peninsula, the deciduous forest is dominated by many varieties of maple, but also includes other hardwoods such as beech, oak, ash, hickory and basswood, as well as balsam fir, white birch and yellow birch further north or at higher altitudes.. During the Indian summer, forest trees, especially maples, take on flamboyant colors.
The vast Abitibi plateau, the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and the North Shore are home to the thick, continuous boreal forest, dominated by conifers with straight, slender trunks, adapted to a short growing season. The main softwood species are black spruce, balsam fir, jack pine and jack pine, to which are added rare birches. The boreal forest covers the entire southern part of the Canadian Shield up to the Laurentian Mountains.
Between the 49th and 58th parallels lies the taiga (sub-zone of the boreal zone), a subarctic woodland composed of clumps of black spruce, tamarack and white birch, thinning out to the north and giving way to stunted, then creeping lichen and moss vegetation, adapted to the arctic climate: this is the tundra. The summer thaw remains superficial here, as the permanently frozen ground (permafrost) prevents the meagre precipitation from infiltrating, creating a layer of poorly drained soil known as "muskeg". Tree growth is non-existent, and during the long days of the brief summer season, the grassy tundra is decked out in bright yellow and pink flowers, and the many Nordic berries can be picked.
A preserved fauna
Home to the largest number of species, southern and central Quebec are the realms of diverse wildlife: moose, caribou, white-tailed deer, wolverine, porcupine, striped skunk, small fur-bearing animals (marmot, marten, otter, beaver, ermine, raccoon), black bear, wolf, lynx, red fox, birds (blue jay, pileated woodpecker, great horned owl, bald eagle, merlin, buzzard, as well as all kinds of ducks, such as the ring-necked loon, and wading birds, such as the great blue heron). As part of the migratory route, Canada Geese and Greater Snow Geese can also be seen. While the shores of the St. Lawrence are ideal for birdwatching, the stars of the show are undoubtedly the whales. Many marine mammals frequent the waters of the river and gulf during their seasonal migrations: seals, beluga whales, humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales and more. Molluscs and crustaceans (crab, lobster, green sea urchin, etc.) also populate the waters of the Gulf and estuary, and lakes and rivers are home to salmon, as well as bass, walleye, pike, sturgeon, yellow perch and more.
The taiga and tundra are home to caribou herds, whose decline has unfortunately been alarming in recent years. In the Torngat Mountains (a mountain range on the border of Quebec and Labrador), caribou are classified as "endangered", meaning that their disappearance is "imminent". The reasons for disturbing its habitat are numerous, ranging from global warming to mining prospecting. To the north, on the tundra, live polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic hares, white foxes, gyrfalcons and snowy owls.
Threatened or vulnerable species
In 1989, the Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérables (LEMV) came into force, making Quebec the second province in the country to adopt such legislation aimed at conserving the province's biodiversity. Then, in 1992, the Politique sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérables was adopted by the Quebec government to define the general framework for applying the LEMV, as well as the process for designating species and habitats to be protected in the province. Naturally, when development or land-use projects are proposed, they are assessed in terms of these sensitive species before being implemented.
As of today, 86 species of wild flora and 65 species of fauna have been designated as threatened or vulnerable in Quebec, with a further 115 species of fauna and around half a thousand species of flora likely to be designated in the near future. The latter species are monitored by the Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec (CDPNQ), as are those already designated. This list must be updated periodically, as the condition of certain species has improved, allowing them to be removed from the list, or, on the contrary, has worsened to such an extent that they must now appear on it.
Places of observation
Everywhere in the province, interpretation and observation experiences of Quebec's flora and fauna are at your fingertips, especially in national parks and wildlife reserves. The Musée de la biodiversité du Québec (Quebec Museum of Biodiversity ) lets you explore the richness of Quebec's ecosystems.
If you'd like to get up close and personal with the animals of North America - and sometimes beyond - the Montreal Biodome, Parc Oméga, Refuge Pageau, Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, Ferme 5 Étoiles and Miller Zoo are all references in the field, some of which also operate as wildlife rehabilitation centers. Marine mammals are also very popular, and observation cruises are offered from Tadoussac and the surrounding area. You can also learn more about these mammals and the marine environment at the Musée du Fjord, the Centre d'interprétation des mammifères marins, the Centre de découverte du milieu marin or the Centre d'interprétation du phoque. For birdwatchers, the shores of the St. Lawrence near Montmagny and the Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area are ideal for observing migratory birds, including the Greater Snow Goose. Grab your binoculars!
