Teaching and Research Forest at Duparquet Lake (FERLD)

The Teaching and Research Forest at Duparquet Lake is managed by Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Université du Québec à Montréal and located in the Canadian Shield’s boreal mixedwood forest (approximately 48°30ʹ N, 79°22ʹ W). About 75% of the 8,045 hectare land base is devoted to developing, applying and demonstrating boreal mixedwood ecosystem management, while 25% (conservation area) contains forests that have originated from a dozen different fires dating from 1760 to 1944 and serves as a natural benchmark for ecological monitoring. The Forest Research Station’s laboratories and infrastructure enable the acquisition of knowledge in boreal forest science and related fields (forest and animal ecology, dendroecology, paleoecology, silviculture, forest management, satellite imagery analysis, lidar and others).

Apart from its proximity to natural and managed forests, the Forest is the setting for many silvicultural experiments and environmental follow-ups. The research station comprises specialized laboratories that provide students and researchers with the expertise and equipment necessary to conduct dendrochronological, dendroecological and paleoecological research. Other field laboratories include basic laboratory space and equipment to support research in its natural surroundings. The station can accommodate 37 people.