Introduction to the Guide

Purpose of the Guide

In Québec, every person who engages in forest development activities must comply with current legislation and regulations. As from April 1, 2018, the new Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State will replace the Regulation respecting standards of forest management for forests in the domain of the State .

This Guide has been designed to help understand and apply the new Regulation. It is intended mainly for the personnel of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF), and for people from the other Government departments concerned, educational institutions and companies or organizations working in the public forests.

Content of the Guide and Instructions

Since the Guide was designed to explain the Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State, its structure follows the Regulation’s chapters and schedules, so that readers can find the information they need, easily and quickly. It also contains information on possible exceptions to the forest development standards set out in the Sustainable Forest Development Act, and provides access to the training session on the Regulation. In addition, its Frequently asked questions section answers the most common questions about the Regulation.

The entire text of the Regulation is reproduced in Guide’s chapters and schedules, and the sections have been subdivided into regulatory rules, each of which is represented by a blue flag () on which readers may click to access additional information in a box. The objectives of each provision are shown. Where necessary, explanations are also given, along with additional information and diagrams to clarify and help with the application of the various rules. Sometimes, where no explanation, additional information or diagram is needed, the box contains only the objectives. Boxes can be enlarged simply by clicking. In some cases, additional documentation can be accessed via a hyperlink. Chapters VIII to X can be consulted, but in these cases no additional information is provided on the text of the Regulation.

The Guide is a dynamic tool, and its content will be changed over time to include technical and scientific clarifications of certain sections, or additional information to help with their application. Updates will be listed on the page entitled Register of Amendments.

The Guide may be consulted online, in a format adapted to the screens of different types of tools, including micro-computers and mobile devices (tablets, smartphones, etc.).

The Guide offers a print function that can be accessed by clicking on the button «» at the bottom of each page to download any of its sections as needed.

Warning

The Guide was designed to explain the provisions of the Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State and does not, in any circumstances, constitute a replacement of the current legislation or regulations. Where there are differences between the text of the Guide and the regulatory and legislative texts, the only ones that have force of law are those available on the Légis Québec  website or published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on May 24, 2017, No. 21 .

Although this Guide presents a variety of information and numerous diagrams to help understand and apply the Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State, it is by no means exhaustive. Readers should consult the personnel of the MFFP’s regional directorates for additional information.

The diagrams are intended to provide as accurate an illustration as possible of the regulatory requirement concerned. However, elements such as tree density or territorial scale may not be entirely consistent with reality.

The content of the Guide may be copied, printed and distributed, provided a note is included to the effect that the document was reproduced from the online publication available at mffp.gouv.qc.ca/RADF/guide/?lang=en.

Lastly, it is impossible to overemphasize the importance of reading the Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State in its entirety, to ensure that it is applied properly. Many of the Regulation’s sections are connected or complement one another. A partial reading may lead to incorrect application of its provisions. An individual or company that fails to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements when carrying out development activities in the public forest is guilty of an offence and may be subject to legal proceedings.

Recommended citation

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts. Application Guide: Regulation respecting the sustainable development of forests in the domain of the State [online], Gouvernement du Québec [mffp.gouv.qc.ca/RADF/guide/?lang=en].