GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE REGULATION RESPECTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTS IN THE DOMAIN OF THE STATE

 

Complete guide

Chapter IV – Wildife habitat protection Division II – Strips of woodland §2. Heronries

Section 54

A strip of woodland at least 200 m wide must be preserved within a strip of 500 m surrounding the site where a heronry’s nests are located. The strip of woodland is measured from the limit that separates the stand from the site of the nests. Forest development activities are prohibited within the first 200 m of the strip of woodland referred to in the first paragraph. They are allowed beyond the first 200 m of that strip of woodland, but only from 1 August to 31 March. 

1

Objective

  • To preserve the integrity of a wildlife habitat

Additional information

It is important to note that the definition of the term “forest development activity” in section 2 of the Regulation means that the standards set out in sections 3, 5, 19 to 22, 47, 50, 52, 54, 55, 57 and 59 do not apply to the repair, maintenance or closure of forest roads or to the control of fires, insect epidemics and cryptogamic diseases. Rules governing forest development activities in heronries Figure 54 Rules governing forest development activities in heronries

2

Objectives

  • To avoid disturbing wildlife To allow for the harvesting of wood
Rules governing forest development activities in heronries Figure 54 Rules governing forest development activities in heronries
The maximum width of the roadway of a road located within the limits of a heronry is 5.5 m.

3

Objective

  • To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place
Rules governing forest development activities in heronries Figure 54 Rules governing forest development activities in heronries
The first and second paragraphs do not apply to the holder of a forestry permit issued for forest development activities carried out by the holder of mining rights for the purposes of exercising his or her rights, unless the mining activities are to extract surface mineral substances, nor to the holder of a forestry permit issued for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects. 

4

Objective

  • To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place

Explanations

A person holding a forestry permit for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects may carry out forest development activities in the 500 m strip surrounding the site where a heronry’s nests are located without applying the conditions set out in the first and second paragraphs of this section. The same exemptions also apply to a holder of mining rights who also holds a forestry permit, unless the mining activities are to extract surface mineral substances. The forestry permit specifies the forest development activities that are authorized and the conditions that must be met when carrying them out.

Additional information

The Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window 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).
This section does not apply to the holder of a forestry permit issued for public utility works. However, before forest development activities required for public utility works and not authorized by this section may be carried out in the part of a heronry referred to in this section, the Minister consults the Minister responsible for the administration of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife This link opens a new window (chapter C-61.1) before issuing the permit.  

5

Objective

  • To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place

Explanations

A person holding a forestry permit for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects may carry out forest development activities in the 500 m strip surrounding the site where a heronry’s nests are located without applying the conditions set out in this section. Before issuing such a permit, the Minister responsible for applying the Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window must consult the Minister responsible for applying the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife to obtain his or her opinion of the mitigation measures that have been recommended to protect the heronry. In light of the opinion, the Minister responsible for applying the Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window  may then give authorization, specifying which forest development activities are authorized and setting the conditions that must be met when they are carried out.

Additional information

The Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window 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).