Since 2021, DTEC has been engaged in an important research partnership in our efforts to help climate proof sugar ARBRE project maple and eastern hardwood species. The partnership is with the Centre d’Enseignement et de Recherche en Foresterie (CERFO), a Quebec-based research institute. CERFO forest researchers and DTEC foresters and technicians are designing a shelterwood system that mimics how shade tolerant sugar maple trees regenerate naturally in canopy gaps of old growth eastern hardwood forests, forests that are relatively insulated from harsh climate conditions.
In plantations without this natural canopy, fast-growing hybrid poplars are planted alongside maples to provide necessary shade. This is critical as climatic conditions are severe in the old open fields that our ARBRE project is restoring to biodiverse sugar maple-leading eastern hardwood stands.
DTEC also commissioned CERFO to do a study of 5 maple plantations in southeastern Quebec near the targeted ARBRE project areas. This study helped DTEC to more accurately model the level of growth and enhanced sequestration of its newly designed sugar maple leading plantations. CERFO and DTEC have also worked on best site preparation and browse damage prevention practices, as well as determining the best spatial arrangement and level of biodiversity. As such, they are pioneering agroforestry as a powerful tool to fight climate change while at the same time achieving multiple important co-benefits such as better ecosystem functionality, rejuvenation of sugar maple production and sustainable expansion of sugar maple production in southeastern Quebec.
