Chapter III – Protection of aquatic environments, riparian areas, wetlands and soils
Division III – Riparian shrub, open peat bogs (unwooded) without a pond and intermittent watercourses
Section 33
Harvesting is prohibited in the riparian shrub swamps whose ecological type is one of the following forests:
- silver maple, elm, ash forest (FO18);
- black ash, fir forest on hydric drainage (MF18);
- yellow birch, fir, sugar maple forest on hydric drainage (MJ18);
- fir, yellow birch forest on hydric drainage (MS18);
- fir, red maple forest on hydric drainage (MS68);
- fir, white cedar forest (RS18).
1
Objectives
- To preserve the integrity of a riparian shrub swamp
- To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place
Additional information
A swamp is said to be riparian when it is adjacent to a lake or watercourse.
Harvesting is allowed in riparian shrub swamps whose ecological type is not one of those referred to in the first paragraph. However, the travel of logging machines during harvest may not result in the natural drainage of the soil being disturbed.
2
Objectives
- To preserve the natural drainage of the soil
- To allow for the harvesting of wood
Additional information
The ecological types for which harvesting is done without disturbance to natural drainage are RS37, RE37, MJ28, RS38 and RE38 (as indicated in the definition of swamp in section 2, the type of deposit must be mineral).
When harvesting in a riparian shrub swamp, steps must be taken to avoid disturbing the natural drainage of the soil. Examples include:
- giving priority to lopping on the harvest site so that harvest waste can be used in the hauling trails to improve carrying capacity;
- using logging machines that place less pressure on the ground;
- giving priority to winter harvesting, when the ground is frozen;
- avoiding forest operations during periods where ground humidity is high (after several consecutive days of rain, in the fall, etc.).
This section does not apply to the holder of a forestry permit issued for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects who carries out forest management activities required for wildlife development projects, nor to the holder of a forestry permit issued for public utility works.
3
Objective
- To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place
Explanations
A person holding a forestry permit issued for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects may carry out forest management activities required for wildlife development projects in riparian shrub swamps. The same applies to a person holding a forestry permit to carry out forest development activities for public utility works.
The Minister responsible for applying the Sustainable Forest Development Act 
specifies which forest development activities are authorized in the forestry permit and sets the conditions to be met when they are carried out.
Additional information
The Sustainable Forest Development Act states that a forestry permit is required to carry out certain forest development activities in forests in the domain of the State (section 73 ). The Act allows the Minister to issue a permit authorizing the holder to carry out the forest development activities specified on the permit, on the conditions determined by the Minister (section 74 ).
