Summary:
Published in The Forestry Chronicle 102(1):92-109
This paper is the fourth in a series on the topic of contemporary issues in Québec’s temperate forest. It focuses on the topic of climate change, beginning with a brief profile of climate history and changes, both contemporary and anticipated. It discusses the main impacts of climate change for forest ecosystems and the issues raised. Numerous studies have shown that rapidly rising temperatures since the mid-1970s have affected various aspects of forest ecosystems, including forest composition and productivity, natural disturbance regimes, the biogeochemical cycle of elements, wildlife populations and maple syrup production. Despite this, however, no major issues were identified for the three principal tree species in Québec’s northern temperate zone (i.e., sugar maple [Acer saccharum Marsh.], red maple [Acer rubrum L.] and yellow birch [Betula alleghaniensis Britt.]) as a result of anticipated climate change between now and the end of the century. The climate in the current temperate zone is likely to remain within the conditions generally encountered in these species’ range. Similarly, the natural disturbance regime in the zone is not expected to change significantly. However, we did identify some important socioeconomic and ecological issues arising from the impacts of climate change for forest ecosystems.
File:
Permanent identifier (DOI):
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s):
DUCHESNE, Louis, François GUILLEMETTE, Steve BÉDARD et Rock OUIMET
Year of publication:
2026
Format:
ISSN:
0015-7546
Keyword(s):
Article scientifique, scientific article, écosystèmes et environnement, ecosystems and environment, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles – peuplements de feuillus, silviculture and yield of natural forests - hardwood stands, érablière, forêt mixte, réchauffement, climat, acériculture, northern hardwood, mixedwood, warming, climate, maple syrup