Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat

chapter C-61.01, r. 73 Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat R É S E R V E D E B I O D I V E R S I T É — K A T N U K A M A T Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01, s. 43 and s. 46, par. 1, subpars. e, f and g, and par. 2). C 6 1 . 0 1 0 2F e b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 9 0 3M a r c h 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS DIVISION I PROTECTION OF RESOURCES AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. 3 DIVISION II RULES OF CONDUCT FOR USERS............................................................... 9 DIVISION III ACTIVITIES REQUIRING AN AUTHORIZATION........................................ 11 DIVISION IV AUTHORIZATION EXEMPTIONS.................................................................. 14 DIVISION V FINAL................................................................................................................. 17 SCHEDULE I TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE II CONSERVATION PLAN OF THE RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ KATNUKAMAT © Éditeur officiel du Québec Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 This document has official status. Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 1 of 33 1. The Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat is constituted in the territory described in the Schedule. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 1. 2. For the purpose of this Regulation (1) the words or terms “high-water mark” , “littoral zone” , “floodplain” , “lakeshore” and “riverbank” have the same meaning as the meaning given in the Protection Policy for Lakeshores, Riverbanks, Littoral Zones and Floodplains (chapter Q-2, r. 35); (2) the term “wetlands and bodies of water” has the same meaning as the meaning given in section 46.0.2 of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2); (3) the term “forest development activity” has the same meaning as the meaning given in the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1). 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 2. DIVISION I PROTECTION OF RESOURCES AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I O.C. 115-2019, Div. I. 3. Subject to the prohibition in the second paragraph, no person may introduce any individuals of a native or non-native species of fauna into the biodiversity reserve, including by stocking, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. No person may stock lake or watercourse for aquaculture, commercial fishing or any other commercial purpose. Except with the authorization of the Minister, no person may introduce non-native species of flora into the biodiversity reserve. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 3. 4. No person may use fertilizers in the biodiversity reserve. Compost for domestic purposes is however permitted if it is used at least 20 m from a lake or watercourse, measured from the high-water mark. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 4. 5. No person may remove from the biodiversity reserve species of flora, small fruits or any other non timber forest product by mechanical means. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 5. 6. No person may in the biodiversity reserve, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister, (1) intervene in a wetland area, including a marsh, swamp or peat bog; (2) modify the natural drainage or water regime, including by creating or developing lakes and watercourses; (3) dig, fill, obstruct or divert a lake or watercourse; (4) install or erect any construction, infrastructure or new works littoral zone, on the banks or shores or the floodplains of a lake or watercourse; no authorization is however required for minor works — quay or RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 2 of 33 platform, boat shelter — installed for private purposes and may be free of charge under section 2 of the Regulation respecting the water property in the domain of the State (chapter R-13, r. 1); (5) carry on an activity other than those referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 likely to directly and substantially affect the biochemical characteristics or quality of wetlands and bodies of water in the biodiversity reserve, including by discharging or dumping residual materials or contaminants into the wetlands or bodies of water; (6) carry out soil development work or an activity likely to degrade the soil or a geological formation, or to damage the vegetation cover, in particular by stripping, the digging of trenches or excavation work, including any burial, earthwork, removal or displacement of surface materials or vegetation cover, for any purpose; (7) install or construct a structure, infrastructure or new works; (8) reconstruct or demolish a structure, infrastructure or works; (9) use a pesticide; no authorization is required for the use of personal insect repellent; (10) carry on educational or research-related activities if the activities are likely to directly or significantly damage or disturb the natural environment, in particular because of the nature or size of the samples taken or the invasive character of the method or process used; or (11) hold a sports event, tournament, rally or any other similar event where (a) fauna or flora species are taken or are likely to be taken; or (b) motor vehicles or craft are used. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 6. 7. Despite paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of section 6, if the requirements provided for in the second paragraph are met, no authorization is required to carry out the following work: (1) the maintenance, repair or improvement of any construction, infrastructure or works, including a camp, a cabin, a road or a trail, including an ancillary facility such as a lookout or stairs; (2) the construction or installation (a) of a dependency or a facility ancillary to a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin, including a shed, a water withdrawal facility or a discharge and disposal of waste water, grey water and toilet effluents; or (b) of a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin if, on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14), such a building was allowed under the right of use or occupancy granted, but was not yet carried out; or (3) the demolition or reconstruction of a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin, including a dependency or a facility ancillary to such a construction, including a shed, a water withdrawal facility or a discharge and disposal of waste water, grey water and toilet effluents. The carrying out of the work referred to in the first paragraph must comply with the following: (1) the work involves a construction, infrastructure or works whose presence is allowed in the biodiversity reserve; RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 3 of 33 (2) the work is carried out within the area of the land or right of way covered by the right of use or occupancy in the biodiversity reserve, whether the right results from a lease, a servitude or another form of title, permit or authorization; (3) the nature of the work or elements erected by the work will not operate to increase the area of land that may remain deforested beyond the limits allowed by the provisions applicable to the sale, lease and granting of immovable rights under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) and, if applicable, the limits set under an authorization issued in connection with that construction, works or infrastructure; (4) the work is carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of any permit or authorization issued for the work or in connection with the construction, infrastructure or works to which they are related, as well as in compliance with the applicable legislative and regulatory measures; (5) in the case of forest roads, the work must not result in altering or exceeding the existing right of way, enlarging the driving roadway or converting the road into a higher class road. For the purposes of this section, repair and improvement work includes work to replace or install structures or facilities with a view to complying with the requirements of environmental regulations. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 7. 8. No person may bury, incinerate, abandon or dispose of residual materials or snow, except if they are disposed of in waste disposal containers, facilities or sites determined by the Minister or, in other cases, with the authorization of the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, an outfitter holding a lease for accommodation purposes in the reserve does not need an authorization to use a disposal facility or site, in compliance with the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2) and its regulations, if the outfitter was already using the facility or site on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14). 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 8. DIVISION II RULES OF CONDUCT FOR USERS 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I I O.C. 115-2019, Div. II. 9. No person may enter, carry on an activity or operate a vehicle in a given sector of the biodiversity reserve if the signage erected by the Minister restricts access, traffic or certain activities in the sector in order to protect the public from a danger or to avoid placing the fauna, flora or other components of the natural environment at risk, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 9. 10. No person may destroy, remove, move or damage any poster, sign, notice or other type of signage posted by the Minister within the biodiversity reserve. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 10. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 4 of 33 DIVISION III ACTIVITIES REQUIRING AN AUTHORIZATION 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I I I O.C. 115-2019, Div. III. 11. No person may, for a period of more than 90 days in the same year, occupy or use the same site of the biodiversity reserve, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. For the purposes of the first paragraph, (1) the occupation or use of a site includes (a) staying or settling in the biodiversity reserve, for instance for vacation purposes; (b) setting up a camp or a shelter; and (c) installing, burying or abandoning any property in the reserve, including equipment, a device or a vehicle; and (2) the expression “same site” includes any other site within a radius of 1 km from the site. Despite the first paragraph, an authorization is not required if a person, (1) on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14), was a party to a lease or had already obtained another form of right or another authorization allowing the person to legally occupy the land under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) or, if applicable, the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1), and whose right to occupy the land is renewed or extended on the same conditions, subject to possible changes in fees; or (2) in accordance with the law, has entitlement under a sublease, an assignment of a lease or a transfer of a right or authorization referred to in subparagraph 1, and whose right to occupy the land is renewed or extended on the same conditions, subject to possible changes in fees. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 11. 12. No person may carry on forest management activities to meet domestic needs or for the purpose of maintaining biodiversity, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, persons staying or residing in the biodiversity reserve and who collect wood required to make a campfire are not required to obtain the authorization of the Minister. No such authorization is required if a person collects firewood to meet domestic needs to supply a trapping camp or a rough shelter permitted within the biodiversity reserve in the following cases and on the following conditions: (1) the wood is collected by a person in compliance with the conditions set out in the permit for the harvest of firewood for domestic purposes issued under the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1); (2) the quantity of wood collected does not exceed 7 apparent cubic metres per year. In addition, no authorization to carry on a forest management activity is required if a person authorized by lease to occupy land within the biodiversity reserve in accordance with this Regulation carries on the forest management activity for the purpose of RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 5 of 33 (1) clearing, maintaining or creating visual openings, and any other similar removal work permitted under the provisions governing the sale, lease and granting of immovable rights under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1), including for access roads, stairs or other trails permitted under those provisions; or (2) clearing the necessary area for the installation, connection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction or improvement of power, water, sewer or telecommunication lines, facilities and mains. If the work referred to in subparagraph 2 of the fourth paragraph is carried on for or under the responsibility of an enterprise providing any of those services, the work requires the prior authorization of the Minister, other than in the case of the exemptions provided for in sections 14 and 16. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 12. 13. No person may carry on commercial activities in the biodiversity reserve, except with the authorization of the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, no authorization is required (1) if the activity does not involve the taking of fauna or flora resources, or the use of a motor vehicle; or (2) to carry on commercial activities if, on the date on which protection status as a biodiversity reserve takes effect, the activities were the subject of a right of use of the land for such purpose, whether or not the right results from a lease or another form of title, permit or authorization, within the limits of what the right allows. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 13. DIVISION IV AUTHORIZATION EXEMPTIONS 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I V O.C. 115-2019, Div. IV. 14. Despite the preceding provisions, an authorization is not required for an activity or other form of intervention within the biodiversity reserve if urgent action is necessary to prevent harm to the health or safety of persons, or to repair or prevent damage caused by a real or apprehended catastrophe. The person concerned must, however, immediately inform the Minister of the activity or intervention that has taken place. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 14. 15. The members of a Native community who, for food, ritual or social purposes, carry on an intervention or an activity within the biodiversity reserve are exempted from obtaining an authorization. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 15. 16. Despite the preceding provisions, the following activities and interventions carried out by Hydro Québec (hereinafter the “Société”) or by any other person for Hydro-Québec do not require the prior authorization of the Minister under this Regulation: (1) any activity or intervention required within the biodiversity reserve to complete a project for which express authorization had previously been given by the Government and the Minister, or only by the latter, in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2), if the activity or intervention is carried out in compliance with the authorizations issued; (2) any activity or intervention necessary for the preparation and presentation of a pre-project report for a project requiring an authorization under the Environment Quality Act; RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 6 of 33 (3) any activity or intervention relating to a project requiring the prior authorization of the Minister under the Environment Quality Act if the activity or intervention is in response to a request for a clarification or for additional information made by the Minister to the Société and it is carried out in accordance with the request. The Société informs the Minister of the various activities or interventions referred to in this section it proposes to carry out before the work is begun in the reserve. For the purposes of this section, the activities and interventions of the Société include but are not restricted to pre-project studies, analysis work or field research, work required to study and monitor the impact of power transmission and distribution line corridors and rights of way, geological or geophysical surveys and survey lines, and the opening and maintenance of roads required for the purpose of access, construction or traffic incidental to the work. 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 16. DIVISION V FINAL 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 , D i v . V O.C. 115-2019, Div. V. 17. (Omitted). 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, s. 17. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 7 of 33 SCHEDULE I (s. 1) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ KATNUKAMAT 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, Sch. I. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 8 of 33 [Translation of the technical description filed in French only in the office of the Surveyor-General of Québec of the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles.] A territory of irregular shape in the Municipalité du Lac-Jérôme, in Municipalité régionale de comté de Minganie, in the administrative region of Côte-North and included in part of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Romaine and part of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Saint-Jean (de Mingan). The perimeter of the territory may be described as fol lows, namely: Starting from point 1 situated at the western limit of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Romaine, more specifically situated at its intersection with a straight line starting from point 2 (5 773 180 m north, 321 474 m east), a straight line having a bearing of 251°13’30”; Thence, easterly, following the said line segment to the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 2 (5 773 180 m north, 321 474 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 3 (5 773 177 m north, 321 528 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 88° 09’ 04” over a distance of about 419 metres to the intersection with the northwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 4 (5 773 191 m north, 321 946 m east); Thence, in an average easterly and southwesterly direc tion, following the northern and southwestern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 5 (5 773 060 m north, 322 406 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream to the inter section with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 6 (5 770 132 m north, 324 005 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northern and northeastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 7 (5 768 046 m north, 325 687 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of the unnamed stream to the intersec tion with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 8 (5 767 808 m north, 325 614 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northern and northeastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the northern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 9 (5 765 012 m north, 327 347 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to point 10 (5 756 827 m north, 331 261 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 166° 37’ 59” over a distance of about 886 metres to the intersection with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 11 (5 755 965 m north, 331 466 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northern and eastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 12 (5 755 921 m north, 331 495 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 166° 58’ 44” over a distance of about 101 metres to the intersection of the northeastern bank of an unnamed stream, that is, point 13 (5 755 822 m north, 331 518 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams and the northwestern bank of rivière aux Sauterelles, to point 14 (5 748 639 m north, 337 368 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 105° 45’ 34” over a distance of about 99 metres to the eastern bank of rivière aux Sauterelles, that is, point 15 (5 748 612 m north, 337 463 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of rivière aux Sauterelles to the intersection with the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 16 (5 748 445 m north, 337 506 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, to point 17 (5 744 379 m north, 339 389 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 179° 00’ 36” over a distance of about 886 metres to the intersection of the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 18 (5 743 493 m north, 339 404 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 9 of 33 Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 19 (5 739 660 m north, 340 001 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersec tion with the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 20 (5 739 342 m north, 338 544 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern bank of the unnamed stream to point 21 (5 739 144 m north, 337 890 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 282° 10’ 01” over a distance of about 437 metres to the intersection of the unnamed stream, that is, point 22 (5 739 236 m north, 337 462 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 276° 25’ 55” over a distance of about 326 metres to the intersection of the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 23 (5 739 273 m north, 337 138 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream and the southern shore of the unnamed lake to point 24 (5 737 316 m north, 336 033 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 220° 47’ 20” over a distance of about 291 metres to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 25 (5 737 096 m north, 335 843 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake to point 26 (5 737 040 m north, 335 836 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 227° 13’ 03” over a distance of about 408 metres to the intersection of the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 27 (5 736 763 m north, 335 537 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersec tion with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 28 (5 736 090 m north, 334 972 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of unnamed streams and the eastern shore of unnamed lakes, to point 29 (5 733 800 m north, 334 701 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 263° 11’ 08” over a distance of about 376 metres, to point 30 (5 733 756 m north, 334 328 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 227° 33’ 57” over a distance of about 300 metres to the intersection of the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 31 (5 733 553 m north, 334 106 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake and the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream to the intersection with the eastern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 32 (5 732 963 m north, 333 207 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of the unnamed stream and the eastern shore of the unnamed lake to point 33 (5 730 418 m north, 333 241 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 252° 56’ 59” over a distance of about 383 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 34 (5 730 306 m north, 332 876 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake and the southern bank of the unnamed stream, to point 35 (5 730 285 m north, 332 425 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 274° 10’ 53” over a distance of about 98 metres, to point 36 (5 730 292 m north, 332 327 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 255°16’ 44” over a distance of 649.31 metres , to point 37 (5 730 127 m north, 331 699 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 246° 59’ 15” over a distance of about 466 metres to the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 38 (5 729 945 m north, 331 270 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the northern bank of unnamed streams and the north western shore of the unnamed lake, whose beds are excluded from the biodiversity reserve, to the intersection with the north eastern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 39 (5 729 128 m north, 330 374 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank of the unnamed stream and the western shore of the unnamed lake, to point 40 (5 730 104 m north, 330 269 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 348° 43’ 40” over a distance of about 1 049 metres to the intersection of the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 41 (5 731 133 m north, 330 064 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 10 of 33 Thence, in an average northerly direction North, fol lowing the western shore of the unnamed lake, to point 42 (5 731 223 m north, 330 092 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 357° 31’ 08” over a distance of about 732 metres to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 43 (5 731 954 m north, 330 060 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersec tion with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 44 (5 732 098 m north, 329 956 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeasterly bank of the unnamed stream to the inter section with the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 45 (5 731 297 m north, 328 936 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 46 (5 731 236 m north, 328 887 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 292° 26’ 15” over a distance of about 319 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 47 (5 731 357 m north, 328 592 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the southern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 48 (5 731 298 m north, 328 306 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the southern bank of the unnamed stream, the western shore of the unnamed lake and bank of the unnamed stream to the intersection with the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 49 (5 732 539 m north, 328 163 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly and northerly direc tions, following the southeastern and western shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the western bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 50 (5 732 826 m north, 327 750 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank of the unnamed stream to the intersec tion with the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 51 (5 732 907 m north, 327 756 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore of the unnamed lake to point 52 (5 733 080 m north, 327 779 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 14° 58’ 24” over a distance of about 581 metres to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 53 (5 733 641 m north, 327 939 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore of the unnamed lake and the unnamed stream to the intersection with the southeastern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 54 (5 734 653 m north, 328 159 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern bank of the unnamed stream, to point 55 (5 734 579 m north, 327 731 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 8° 07’ 00” over a distance of about 362 metres to the western bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 56 (5 734 937 m north, 327 782 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream to point 57 (5 736 104 m north, 326 237 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 304° 01’ 23” over a distance of about 294 metres to the southern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 58 (5 736 268 m north, 325 993 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream to the inter section with the southern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 59 (5 738 790 m north, 324 352 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream and shore of the unnamed lake, to point 60 (5 739 814 m north, 323 581 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 341° 46’ 21” over a distance of about 391 metres to the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 61 (5 740 185 m north, 323 459 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes, to point 62 (5 741 315 m north, 323 170 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 284° 35’ 51” over a distance of about 143 metres to the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 63 (5 741 352 m north, 323 032 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 64 (5 741 457 m north, 322 973 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 11 of 33 Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 281° 42’ 34” over a distance of about 263 metres to the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 65 (5 741 511 m north, 322 715 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams to point 66 (5 742 270 m north, 322 595 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 271° 23’ 28” over a distance of about 172 metres to the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 67 (5 742 274 m north, 322 422 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams to point 68 (5 743 482 m north, 322 246 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 6° 36’ 52” over a distance of about 82 metres to the intersection of the southwestern shore of lac Thévet, that is, point 69 (5 743 564 m north, 322 274 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following the southwestern shore of lac Thévet to point 70 (5 744 156 m north, 321 579 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, fol lowing the southeastern bank of an unnamed stream and the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 71 (5 744 538 m north, 320 869 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 324° 37’ 15” over a distance of about 93 metres to the southeastern shore of lac Thévet, that is, point 72 (5 744 614 m north, 320 816 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, fol lowing the southwestern shore of lac Thévet, to point 73 (5 744 821 m north, 320 580 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 234° 42’ 25” over a distance of about 72 metres to the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 74 (5 744 779 m north, 320 521 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 75 (5 745 046 m north, 319 986 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 283° 00’ 53” over a distance of about 125 metres to the eastern shore of lac Thévet, that is, point 76 (5 745 074 m north, 319 864 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southwestern shore of lac Thévet to the intersection with the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 77 (5 745 680 m north, 317 799 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream to the eastern limit of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Romaine, that is, point 78; Thence, in an average northern direction, following the eastern limit of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Romaine, to starting point 1; Having an area of 533.07 km2 . NOTES: — The limit described in this description constitutes a limit only for the purposes of land management relating to the use of the mandate concerned and may not be invoked for border delineation purposes . — The limit of the biodiversity reserve shown on the plan accompanying the technical description was deter mined from the digital files of the CanVec series of the map database at a scale of 1:50,000 of Natural Resources Canada for 2012 and an excerpt of the surveys officialized in the Registre du domaine de l’État effective on 26 April 2017. — Generally, all the beds of watercourses, rivers and lakes are included in the biodiversity reserve. Only those excluded are mentioned in this technical description . — The limits defined by the shore of a lake or the bank of a river or stream correspond to the high-water mark. — The coordinates and areas used in this technical description are approximate. They were graphically deter mined from the said data used to determine the limit of the biodiversity reserve. They are given in metres in refe rence to the Québec plane coordinate system (SCOPQ), Modified Transverse Mercator projection (MTM), Time Zone 5 (central meridian 64°30’), North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). — The measures comply with the International System of Units. — The limit of the biodiversity reserve is based on the actual layout of the elements described in this document and must be legally interpreted in such a way. It was prepa red by the Direction des aires protégées of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques of Québec. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 12 of 33 — The territory of the biodiversity reserve, as described in this technical description includes only the lands in the domain of the State . Any land that that is not part of the domain of the State is excluded from the biodiversity reserve . — The territory is represented on a plan at a scale of 1:40,000. — In accordance with the instructions of the Direction des aires protégées of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, the information contained in the fundamental documents provided by the manda tor, from which this technical description was prepared, is accepted as fact . The whole as shown on the plan prepared by the under signed on 10 October 2017 and filed with the office of the Surveyor-General of Québec of the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles of Québec under document number 536737 . Prepared in Trois-Rivières, on 10 October 2017 under number 17-525 of my records and under number sixteen thousand four hundred and eighty-eight of my minutes. Digitally signed by: PIerre Brodeur, Land Surveyor Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques Direction des aires protégées MDDELCC report: 5148-06-09 (08) RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 13 of 33 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 14 of 33 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 15 of 33 SCHEDULE II CONSERVATION PLAN OF THE RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ KATNUKAMAT 1 1 5 2 0 1 9 O.C. 115-2019, Sch. II. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 16 of 33 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 17 of 33 Cover photos: Dominic Boisjoly Reference to cite: Gouvernement du Québec. 2018. Conservation Plan, Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. Québec, Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques, Direction des aires protégées. 21 pages. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 18 of 33 Contents INTRODUCTION 1. Description of the biodiversity reserve 1.1 Official toponym 1.2 Geographical location, boundaries and area 1.3 Ecological portrait 1.4 Land occupation and uses 2. Conservation objectives 2.1 Protection of biodiversity 2.2 Knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring 3. Zoning 4. Activity framework applicable to the biodiversity reserve 4.1 Activity framework established by the Natural Heritage Conservation Act 4.2 Activity framework established by the Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat 5. Activities governed by other laws 6. Management 6.1 Responsibilities of the Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change 6.2 Adaptive management 6.3 Stakeholder participation and integrated management BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Appendix 1 Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Location and regional context Appendix 2 Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Boundaries, vegetation and occupation Appendix 3 Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Ecological units RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 19 of 33 Introduction In 2002, the Gouvernement du Québec moved to protect the territory of the Lac aux Sauterelles mounds by prohibiting the principal industrial activities that could threaten conservation of the area (forest, hydroelectric and mining development). The territory was officially accorded the legal provisional status of proposed biodiversity reserve on June 19, 2003 under section 90 of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). The proposed biodiversity reserve was given the temporary name of Réserve de biodiversité projetée des buttes du lac aux Sauterelles. By giving permanent protected status to Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat, the Gouvernement du Québec ensures the definitive protection of representative samples of the biological diversity of the central Labrador natural province, and more specifically of the Lacs Brûlé-Fournier plateau natural region. The purpose of the reserve is to preserve the ecosystems of a landscape shaped by glaciers and undisturbed by human activity. By excluding industrial activities from the reserve, its landscapes and ecosystems will be safeguarded for future generations. The new biodiversity reserve joins a vast network of protected areas aimed at protecting the various types of representative and exceptional ecosystems across Québec. On August 10, 2006 the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MDDEP) mandated the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) to hold a public consultation on four proposed biodiversity reserves: du massif des lacs Belmont et Magpie, des buttes du lac aux Sauterelles (Katnukamat), des basses collines du lac Guernesé, and des collines de Brador. This mandate was given to the BAPE pursuant to section 39 of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act, which provides for a public consultation process before a proposal is made to the Government on permanent protection status for land set aside as a proposed protected area. The BAPE’s mandate began on September 14, 2006 and concluded on February 14, 2007. The first part of the consultation was held from October 16 to 19, 2006 in the municipalities of Rivière-Saint Jean, Blanc-Sablon and Saint-Augustin, and in the Innu community of Pakua Shipu. The second part of the consultation was held from pNovember 21 to 23, 2006 in the municipalities of Havre-Saint-Pierre and Blanc-Sablon and in the Innu community of Pakua Shipu. The BAPE’s inquiry and public hearing report (No. 236) was submitted to the Minister of the MDDEP on February 14, 2007 and made public on July 16, 2008 (BAPE, 2007). In its report, the commission recommended giving permanent protection status to Réserve de biodiversité projetée des buttes du lac aux Sauterelles, which is now Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. The present conservation plan was drawn up by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) after the BAPE’s consultation. It sets out the ministerial vision for the conservation of the territory of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. Incorporating a large part of the document prepared by the MDDEP in September 2006 for RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 20 of 33 the public consultation, it takes into account the conclusions of BAPE report #236 (BAPE, 2007). Thus, the conservation plan reflects the concerns of all governmental and non-governmental partners involved in implementing the strategic action plan on protected areas. The purpose of this conservation plan is to inform the public as to the legislative framework applying within the biodiversity reserve (see sections 4 and 5). The plan is also intended to guide management by detailing conservation objectives specific to Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. These objectives, discussed in sections 2.1 and 2.2, can be summarized as follows: • Maintain the ecological integrity of the biodiversity reserve • Encourage the acquisition of knowledge and carry out monitoring 1. Description of the biodiversity reserve 1.1 Official toponym Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: the name refers to Lac aux Sauterelles, which is also called Katnukamat or Katnukamaht in the Innu language, meaning “long lake”. 1.2 Geographical location, boundaries and area The location and regional context of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat are shown in Appendix 1. The boundaries, vegetation and occupation are illustrated in Appendix 2. Location: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat is located in the backcountry of the administrative region of Côte-Nord, and is part of the unorganized territory of Lac-Jérôme in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Minganie. More precisely, the protected area lies between 51°41’ and 52°05’ north latitude and between 63°59’ and 64°22’ west longitude. It is about 165 km north-northwest of Havre-Saint-Pierre and about 155 km north of Mingan, home of an Innu community (Ekuanishit). Area and boundaries: The initial area of the proposed reserve, when it was set aside as such in 2003, was 481 km2. The final boundaries were defined on the basis of natural elements that are easily identified on the ground, to facilitate management. After these adjustments, Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat now covers an area of 532.91 km2. The northwest boundary of the reserve corresponds to the northwest boundary of the Romaine river watershed boundary as defined by the primitive land surveying. The legal boundaries of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat are defined in the technical description and the survey map prepared by land surveyor Pierre Brodeur with the following minutes 16488 (October 10, 2017) and filed in the surveying archives of the Surveyor General of Québec (Greffe de l’arpenteur général du Québec), Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles under document number 536737. Accessibility: No roads provide access to the biodiversity reserve. There are however numerous lakes that are large enough for seaplanes to land, particularly Lac aux Sauterelles in the northern part of the reserve. It can also be accessed by snowmobile. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 21 of 33 1.3 Ecological portrait Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat is in the central Labrador natural province, except a small portion in the south that is in the Basse-Côte Nord plateau. The reserve protects a geomorphological complex and associated biodiversity representative of the Lacs Brûlé Fournier plateau natural region, or more precisely the Lac-Brulé knolls physiographic complex. 1.3.1 Representative elements Geology and geomorphology: The territory is entirely in Grenville geological province and is part of the Canadian Shield geological complex. In the west, the geological foundation consists of mafic rocks, more precisely anorthosite. In the east, it consists of felsic rocks, in this case undeformed granite, and on the southern edge, syenite and monzonite. The landscape of the region was shaped by glaciers. The ice sheet advanced in a northwest/southeast direction, as shown by the spatial organization of landscape elements, which allow the reserve to be divided into four ecological units (see Appendix 3). The first, in the centre, is associated with the glacial advance. Drumlins dominate, composed of well drained till interspersed with poorly drained areas. The second ecological unit is to the west and displays a geomorphology characteristic of subglacial water flow. Three eskers were formed here, oriented in the same direction as the glacier. They are separated by large bogs and slightly higher areas composed of thick till eroded laterally by 1 The Strahler number is a way of ranking a watercourse by its position in the watershed. Streams with no tributaries have a Strahler number of 1. The confluence of two streams of the same rank raises that of the water downstream. The longest rivers in Québec have a Strahler number of 8. glacial meltwaters. The third ecological unit is in the southwest, a valley bottom downstream from the fluvioglacial flow zone, where Lac Thévet is located. Traversed by eskers, the fluvioglacial terraces of sand and gravel were created by proglacial outwash, though there are also fluviatile sediments from present-day watercourses. The fourth unit is in the eastern part of the reserve and displays a geomorphology characteristic of glacial melting, namely a jumble of terrestrial and aquatic elements with no spatial organization. The stagnation moraines that blanket the area are intermingled with deposits of fluvioglacial origin. At the southern extremity of the reserve, outcrops of bedrock surface from the till. The elevation of the reserve ranges from 526 m to 796 m, with an average elevation of 582 m. Hydrography: The biodiversity reserve is in the Rivière Romaine watershed, protecting about 3.7% of it. There are just over fifteen lakes of glacial origin, covering nearly 15% of the territory. Most are elongated, entrenched in narrow valleys. The largest is Lac aux Sauterelles with an area of 17 km² and a length of about 20 km. It is in the north of the protected area, at an elevation of 542 m. Like lakes Brigeart and Thévet, it drains into Rivière aux Sauterelles, which has a Strahler number of 41. Rivière aux Sauterelles in turn empties into Rivière Romaine, about 40 km to the east. Mostly composed of headwater elements, the hydrographic network has an overall northwest-southeast orientation. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 22 of 33 Climate: The territory of the reserve is subject to a cold continental subarctic climate, subhumid with a short growing season. For the most part it is in the bioclimatic domain of black spruce/lichen forests. A small part in the south is in the bioclimatic domain of black spruce/moss forests. Flora: The territory is a mosaic of several types of vegetation. Conifer stands cover 42% of it, consisting primarily of black spruce (Picea mariana) commonly accompanied by balsam fir (Abies balsamea), particularly on higher places like eskers and drumlins. On the terraces, 11% of the territory is coniferous heath with a ground cover of lichens and cup lichens (e.g. Cladonia stellaris, C. mitis and C. rangiferina), while 2% is heath with an understory of shrubs, including Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), velvet-leaf huckleberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Taking up 4% of the territory, bogs occupy the hollows. Around these wetlands and in poorly drained places there are tamarack (Larix laricina), bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia), dwarf bilberry (Vaccinium cespitosum) and leatherleaf (Cassandra calyculata), together with speckled alder (Alnus rugosa). Bryophytes (non-vascular plants) like red stemmed feather moss (Pleurozium schreberi) and knight’s plume moss (Ptilium crista castrensis), and herbaceous plants like savin leaved clubmoss (Diphasiastrum x sabinifolium) and creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula) have been found in the biodiversity reserve. The most recent surveys for the general area date from 1998 and were conducted by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles (now the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs). Some of the species found in the region could be present on the territory of the reserve, such as three lobed whipwort (Bazzania trilobata, a species of liverwort), velvetleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) and bunchberry (Cornus canadensis). Between 2005 and 2010 the area was ravaged by forest fires. A large burned area of about 118 km2, more than a fifth of the biodiversity reserve, stretches from north to south and includes the area west of Lac aux Sauterelles. Wildlife: Since no wildlife survey has been done, very little information is available. Most of what is known comes from traditional sources. For example, members of the Innu community say that a wolf pack (Canis lupus) has been observed in the biodiversity reserve. 1.3.2 Outstanding elements According to the Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, no plant species that is threatened or vulnerable or likely to be so designated has been observed in the reserve (CDPNQ, 2014). However, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), designated vulnerable in Québec, do occupy the territory. More precisely, the reserve is in the range of the Lac Joseph herd, which uses it for calving, rearing and overwintering (Schmelzer et al., 2004). The Ekuanitshit Innu say they have hunted woodland caribou in the area around Lac aux Sauterelles. The territory is noteworthy from a geomorphological point of view, since four parts of the reserve exemplify different phases in the passage of the continental ice sheet. One zone is characteristic of glacial advance, a second of subglacial water flow, a third of fluvioglacial outwash, while the fourth is clearly indicative of RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 23 of 33 glacial melting. All these geomorphological signs follow a northwest/southeast axis, revealing the orientation of the glacier. 1.4 Land occupation and uses The boundaries and vegetation of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat, and the occupations exercised on its territory, are illustrated in Appendix 2. No land rights have been granted within the boundaries of the reserve, and no archeological sites have been identified, probably because no survey has been done. Thanks to its location north of the boundary for commercial logging and in an area, the territory of the reserve is free of anthropic disturbances of an industrial nature. Since there is little access to it, there are no recreotourism activities in the protected area. The entire territory is within the Saguenay beaver reserve and is part of fur-bearing animal management unit 62. The Innu community of Ekuanitshit, at the confluence of Rivière Mingan and the St. Lawrence 200 km east of Sept-Îles, has a population of about 600. It holds specific rights on the territory of the reserve in respect of hunting and the trapping of fur-bearing animals. The Innu of Ekuanitshit frequent the territory and have established camps in the areas around Lac aux Sauterelles and Lac Thévet, where they practise traditional activities including hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering for food, ritual and social purposes. The biodiversity reserve is also located within the hunting zone 19 south. Sport hunting for caribou has been prohibited throughout the entire zone since 2001, but the Innu hunt for subsistence purposes. They also hunt moose (Alces americanus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), beaver (Castor canadensis), Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) and American marten (Martes americana). The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and black duck (Anas rubripes) are the most heavily hunted bird species. The most frequently caught fish species is the brook trout or speckled trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). 2. Conservation objectives This section presents guidelines and conservation objectives specific to Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. 2.1 Protection of biodiversity To maintain the viability of ecological processes, management of the reserve should give priority to protecting the ecosystems present and the species that depend on them. The biodiversity reserve is also intended to protect landscapes and modes of occupation and use that are compatible with biodiversity protection objectives. Existing occupations and uses should be managed to ensure that they have as little impact as possible on biodiversity. Each biodiversity reserve in the Québec network presents unique conservation challenges. In the case of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat, the ecosystems and their associated biodiversity are ecologically intact, thanks to the lack of human disturbance. Management of the reserve should therefore be focused on maintaining this ecological integrity, which will also facilitate protection of the woodland caribou. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 24 of 33 Specific objective: Maintain the reserve’s ecological integrity Industrial activities are prohibited in the reserve. This status does however allow the development and pursuit of non-industrial activities of a recreational, traditional or cultural nature. At present the reserve is relatively unfrequented. Nonetheless, should existing activities increase in intensity or new activities be authorized, it will be important to ensure the continued integrity of protected ecosystems. Projects should be evaluated with a view toward biodiversity, the support capacity of ecosystems2 and the harmonization of uses. Projects must also be compatible with the reserve’s conservation objectives. Attention must also be paid to conserving the habitats of sensitive species, and especially to protecting the species themselves, such as woodland caribou. Since part of the boundary of the reserve is close to Newfoundland and Labrador, it will be important to collaborate with officials of that province in monitoring biodiversity and the Lac Joseph caribou population who use this territory. 2.2 Knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring To provide the information and tools needed for good management, and to ensure the conservation of the area’s specific biodiversity, ecological knowledge should be developed. 2 Support capacity is defined as follows: in a sustainable development perspective, the support capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum pressure that can be exerted on it by human activities without jeopardizing its integrity, to ensure its continued viability. Specific objective: Promote knowledge acquisition and conduct monitoring Since Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat is relatively inaccessible, knowledge about its plants and wildlife is incomplete. Besides contributing to specific objectives stemming from the principle of natural heritage protection, knowledge acquisition will lead to a more detailed portrait of the area’s biodiversity. Within available budgets, surveys should be carried out under a knowledge acquisition and monitoring program, covering human activities as well as biodiversity. Ecological, historical, human, social and traditional information should be compiled, and the impacts of permitted activities documented. Data on the status of the Lac Joseph caribou herd should also be updated. The knowledge so acquired will help to ensure that authorized activities do not compromise biodiversity maintenance. It could also serve in the development of discovery, education and awareness activities. Lastly, it will give managers a better understanding of how the ecosystems present function and evolve, and will facilitate a common understanding of the issues. 3. Zoning The MELCC does not propose any zoning to guide the management of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat, since ecological knowledge is still too fragmentary and the territory is little used. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 25 of 33 4. Activity framework applicable to the biodiversity reserve The purpose of the reserve is to protect natural environments and their components. For this reason, activities that could have a significant impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, especially of an industrial nature, are prohibited. Less harmful activities and occupations, such as those involving recreation, wildlife, ecotourism or education, are however permitted in this type of protected area. In sum, the biodiversity reserve should be considered as a territory dedicated to protecting the natural environment, to nature discovery and to recreation. 4.1 Activity framework established by the Natural Heritage Conservation Act Activities carried out within the biodiversity reserve are primarily governed by the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). Under the Act, the activities prohibited in an area with the status of biodiversity reserve are primarily the following:  mining and gas or oil extraction;  forest management within the meaning of section 4 of the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1);  the exploitation of hydraulic resources and any production of energy on a commercial or industrial basis. Though fundamental to protecting the territory and its ecosystems, the above prohibitions do not cover all of the standards considered desirable to ensure the proper management of reserve and the conservation of its natural environment. The Natural Heritage Conservation Act allows the Regulation to detail the legal framework applicable on the territory of a biodiversity reserve. 4.2 Activity framework established by the Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat The provisions contained in Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat set out additional prohibitions beyond those already stipulated in the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). They also provide a framework for certain permitted activities, to ensure the protection of the natural environment in accordance with the principles of conservation and other management objectives of the reserve. Certain activities are therefore subject to prior authorization by the Minister. The measures presented in Regulation concern new interventions in particular, and generally do not affect activities that are already being practised or facilities that are already present. Many existing uses are thus preserved. In listing the activities requiring authorization, Regulation does not identify which ones would be considered incompatible with the vocation of the reserve and could therefore be refused authorization. Basic information about the compatibility or incompatibility of each type of activity is provided in the document Activity Framework for Biodiversity Reserves and Aquatic Reserves, which is available on the website of the MELCC, at: http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires protegees/regime-activites/regime-activite reserve-bio-aqua-en.pdf. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 26 of 33 Note that certain activities are exempted from the requirement to obtain authorization. These exemptions are also presented in Regulation. 5. Activities governed by other laws Certain activities that could potentially be practised in the biodiversity reserve are also governed by other applicable legislative and regulatory provisions, and some require a permit or authorization or the payment of certain fees. Certain activities could be prohibited or limited under other laws or regulations applicable on the territory of the reserve. In the territory of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat, a particular legal framework may govern permitted activities under the following categories: Protection of the environment: measures stipulated by the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2) and its regulations; Archeological research and discoveries: measures stipulated by the Cultural Heritage Act (chapter P-9.002); Exploitation and conservation of wildlife resources: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1) and its regulations, including provisions related to threatened or vulnerable wildlife species, outfitters and beaver reserves, and measures in the applicable federal laws and regulations, including the legislation and regulations on fisheries; Plant species designated as threatened or vulnerable: measures prohibiting the harvesting of such species under the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species (chapter E-12.01); Access and property rights related to the domain of the State: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) and by the Watercourses Act (chapter R-13); Issuance and oversight of forest development permits (harvesting of firewood for domestic purposes, wildlife development, recreational development); and delivery of authorizations (forest roads): measures stipulated by the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1); Travel: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State and by the regulations on motor vehicle travel in fragile environments, under the Environment Quality Act; Construction and development standards: regulatory measures adopted by local and regional municipal authorities in accordance with the applicable laws. 6. Management 6.1 Responsibilities of the Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change The Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change is responsible for the management of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. Among other things, the Minister sees to the control and supervision of activities that take place there, and to the application of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01) and Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. Operational management of the reserve is assigned to the RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 27 of 33 Direction régionale of the MELCC. In his management, the Minister enjoys the collaboration and participation of other government representatives that have specific responsibilities in or adjacent to the territory. The MELCC will establish a mechanism for the participation of local stakeholders interested in the future of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. The MELCC considers that the management needs of Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat come down to overseeing the territory, knowledge acquisition, and monitoring biodiversity and land use. 6.2 Adaptive management As mentioned in section 2, “Conservation objectives”, knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring will be undertaken in collaboration with the local and regional partners concerned. The knowledge acquired will serve to guide management activities. A mechanism should be put in place to monitor the conservation objectives, and if necessary, to rectify the minimal management planned for this territory. 6.3 Stakeholder participation and integrated management While the MELCC considers that Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat has minimal management needs, the question of zoning could be reviewed with local stakeholders when preparing the action plan, to provide a framework for the possible development and practice of activities in the protected area. Management of the biodiversity reserve should respect the following conservation principles:  maintain natural ecosystem dynamics;  allow activities to be practised, and the territory to be developed, within the limits of the support capacity of ecosystems, paying particular attention to the sensitivity of woodland caribou to all forms of disturbance;  promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge about the natural and cultural heritage. In addition, to ensure responsible management of the reserve, the precautionary principle must be applied. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 28 of 33 Bibliographical references Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement. 2007. Rapport d’enquête et d’audience publique 236 – Projets de réserves de biodiversité du massif des lacs Belmont et Magpie, des buttes du lac aux Sauterelles, des basses collines du lac Guernesé et des collines de Brador, 60 p. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, février 2014. Extractions du système de données pour le territoire de la réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat. Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, 3 pages. Direction du patrimoine écologique et des parcs. 2006. Proposition de plan de conservation pour les réserves de biodiversité du Massif-des-Lacs Belmont-et-Magpie et des Buttes-du-Lac-aux Sauterelles - Document de consultation publique, gouvernement du Québec, ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs, 41 p. Lavoie, G. 1984. Flore Moyenne-et-Basse-Côte Nord, Québec/Labrador. Provancheria. Vol 17, 149 p. Li, T. et Ducruc, J.-P. 1999. Les provinces naturelles. Niveau I du cadre écologique de référence du Québec. Ministère de l’Environnement, 90 p. Schmelzer, I. & Brazil, J., Chubbs, T., French, S., Hearn, B., Jeffery, R., LeDrew, L., Martin, H., McNeill, A., Nuna, R., Otto, R., Phillips, F., Mitchell, G., Pittman, G., Simon, N., Yetman, G. (2004). Recovery strategy for three Woodland caribou herds (Rangifer tarandus caribou; Boreal population) in Labrador. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook. Widner, C. and Marion, J.L. 1993. Horse impacts: Research findings and their implications. Master Network, part 1 – 1993: No. 5 (pp. 5, 14); part 2 – 1994: No. 6 (pp. 5-6). RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 29 of 33 Appendix 1: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Location and regional context Appendix 1: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Location and regional context RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 30 of 33 Appendix 2: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Boundaries, vegetation and occupation Appendix 2: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Boundaries, vegetation and occupation RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 31 of 33 Appendix 3: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Ecological units Appendix 3: Réserve de biodiversité Katnukamat: Ecological units RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 32 of 33 UPDATES O.C. 115-2019, 2019 G.O. 2, 312 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — KATNUKAMAT Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 73 / 33 of 33