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The success of the 2030 Agenda hinges on mobilization at the local level. The localization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their targets involves adapting them to local contexts. This case study of Quebec City, Canada, illustrates how the use of a systemic sustainability analysis tool can help integrate SDGs in the building of a sustainable development strategy at the local level. Our approach focuses on the use of an SDG target prioritization grid (SDGT-PG) and begins with the mobilization and training of a group of officers representing various city services. We first used an original text-mining framework to evaluate SDG integration within existing strategic documents published by the city. The result provides a portrait of existing contributions to SDG targets and identifies potential synergies and trade-offs between services and existing policies. A citywide prioritization workshop was held to assess the relative importance of SDG targets for the city. Priorities were then identified by combining the importance of the targets as viewed by stakeholders, the current level of achievement of SDG targets as determined by the analysis of existing documents, and the jurisdiction and responsibilities given to Quebec City in regard to federal and provincial legislation. We identified the main focus areas and related SDG targets. Furthermore, we observed whether actions needed to be consolidated or new actions needed to be implemented. The identification of synergies and trade-offs within the city service actions provides information on the links to be made between the different municipal services and calls for partnerships with other organizations. The use of the SDGT-PG allows the vertical and horizontal integration of the SDG targets and demonstrates how participation and inclusion facilitate stakeholders’ appropriation of the applied sustainable development strategy.
David Tremblay; Sabine Gowsy; Olivier Riffon; Jean-François Boucher; Samuel Dubé; Claude Villeneuve. A Systemic Approach for Sustainability Implementation Planning at the Local Level by SDG Target Prioritization: The Case of Quebec City. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2520 .
AMA StyleDavid Tremblay, Sabine Gowsy, Olivier Riffon, Jean-François Boucher, Samuel Dubé, Claude Villeneuve. A Systemic Approach for Sustainability Implementation Planning at the Local Level by SDG Target Prioritization: The Case of Quebec City. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2520.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavid Tremblay; Sabine Gowsy; Olivier Riffon; Jean-François Boucher; Samuel Dubé; Claude Villeneuve. 2021. "A Systemic Approach for Sustainability Implementation Planning at the Local Level by SDG Target Prioritization: The Case of Quebec City." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2520.
Allometric equations use easily measurable biometric variables to determine the aboveground and belowground biomasses of trees. Equations produced for estimating the biomass within Canadian forests at a large scale have not yet been validated for eastern Canadian boreal open woodlands (OWs), where trees experience particular environmental conditions. In this study, we harvested 167 trees from seven boreal OWs in Quebec, Canada for biomass and allometric measurements. These data show that Canadian national equations accurately predict the whole aboveground biomass for both black spruce and jack pine trees, but underestimated branches biomass, possibly owing to a particular tree morphology in OWs relative to closed-canopy stands. We therefore developed ad hoc allometric equations based on three power models including diameter at breast height (DBH) alone or in combination with tree height (H) as allometric variables. Our results show that although the inclusion of H in the model yields better fits for most tree compartments in both species, the difference is minor and does not markedly affect biomass C stocks at the stand level. Using these newly developed equations, we found that carbon stocks in afforested OWs varied markedly among sites owing to differences in tree growth and species. Nine years after afforestation, jack pine plantations had accumulated about five times more carbon than black spruce plantations (0.14 vs. 0.80 t C·ha−1), highlighting the much larger potential of jack pine for OW afforestation projects in this environment.
Olivier Fradette; Charles Marty; Pascal Tremblay; Daniel Lord; Jean-François Boucher. Allometric Equations for Estimating Biomass and Carbon Stocks in Afforested Open Woodlands with Black Spruce and Jack Pine, in the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest. Forests 2021, 12, 59 .
AMA StyleOlivier Fradette, Charles Marty, Pascal Tremblay, Daniel Lord, Jean-François Boucher. Allometric Equations for Estimating Biomass and Carbon Stocks in Afforested Open Woodlands with Black Spruce and Jack Pine, in the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest. Forests. 2021; 12 (1):59.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOlivier Fradette; Charles Marty; Pascal Tremblay; Daniel Lord; Jean-François Boucher. 2021. "Allometric Equations for Estimating Biomass and Carbon Stocks in Afforested Open Woodlands with Black Spruce and Jack Pine, in the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest." Forests 12, no. 1: 59.
In Canada, boreal open woodlands (OWs) show interesting afforestation potential, but no detailed study is available regarding the carbon fraction (CF) of dry matter in biomass and litter reservoirs (tonne C/tonne dry mass). This study aimed at providing the very first specific CF values of C reservoirs and compartments in OWs, with the main hypothesis that given the particular stand characteristics of OWs, more precise CF values than IPCC’s default values would significantly change the calculation of C stocks in OWs. Results indicate that even though the CF values measured in this study were significantly different among the different C reservoirs and compartments in OWs, they matched the IPCC default CF values for the biomass (0.50) and humus (0.37) reservoirs. Therefore, the main hypothesis of this study – that more precise CF values than IPCC’s default values would significantly change the calculation of C stocks in OWs – was not supported by the results. Consequently, the IPCC default values of the CF in the biomass and litter (humus) reservoirs can be used to estimate C stocks in boreal OWs, for example when using OWs as the baseline scenario in afforestation projects.
Jean-François Boucher; Pascal Tremblay; Alexandre Lefebvre; Olivier Fradette; Sylvie Bouchard; Daniel Lord. The carbon fraction in biomass and organic matter in boreal open woodlands of Eastern Canada. Écoscience 2019, 26, 309 -314.
AMA StyleJean-François Boucher, Pascal Tremblay, Alexandre Lefebvre, Olivier Fradette, Sylvie Bouchard, Daniel Lord. The carbon fraction in biomass and organic matter in boreal open woodlands of Eastern Canada. Écoscience. 2019; 26 (4):309-314.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJean-François Boucher; Pascal Tremblay; Alexandre Lefebvre; Olivier Fradette; Sylvie Bouchard; Daniel Lord. 2019. "The carbon fraction in biomass and organic matter in boreal open woodlands of Eastern Canada." Écoscience 26, no. 4: 309-314.
Open lichen woodlands (LWs) are degraded stands that lack the ability to regenerate naturally due to a succession of natural and/or anthropogenic disturbances. As they represent both interesting forest restoration and carbon sequestration opportunities, we tested disc scarification and planting of two sizes of containerized black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. (BSP)) seedlings for their afforestation. We compared treatment of unproductive LWs to reforestation of harvested, closed-crown black spruce-feathermoss (BSFM) stands. After one year, seedling survival and nutritional status were equivalent among stand types but despite higher root elongation index (REI), planted seedlings in LWs had lower relative growth rate, smaller total biomass and stem diameter than those in BSFM stands. Soil fertility variables, soil temperature, nor seedling water potential, helped at explaining this early growth response. Disc scarification significantly improved seedling first-year survival, biomass and foliar nutrient concentrations of P, Ca, and Mg. Smaller planting stock showed higher REI, higher shoot water potential, and higher foliar nutrient concentration of all but one of the measured nutrients (N, P, K and Mg). Hence, preliminary results suggest that planting of smaller containerized black spruce stock, combined with disc scarification, shows potential for afforestation of unproductive LWs. The impact of the lichen mat and other potential growth limiting factors on afforestation of these sites requires further investigation.
Pascal Tremblay; Jean-François Boucher; Marc Tremblay; Daniel Lord. Afforestation of Boreal Open Woodlands: Early Performance and Ecophysiology of Planted Black Spruce Seedlings. Forests 2013, 4, 433 -454.
AMA StylePascal Tremblay, Jean-François Boucher, Marc Tremblay, Daniel Lord. Afforestation of Boreal Open Woodlands: Early Performance and Ecophysiology of Planted Black Spruce Seedlings. Forests. 2013; 4 (2):433-454.
Chicago/Turabian StylePascal Tremblay; Jean-François Boucher; Marc Tremblay; Daniel Lord. 2013. "Afforestation of Boreal Open Woodlands: Early Performance and Ecophysiology of Planted Black Spruce Seedlings." Forests 4, no. 2: 433-454.
Lichen woodlands (LW) located in the closed-crown boreal forest are not a successional stage moving towards a closed black spruce feathermoss stand (FM), but an alternative stable state, due to their previous forest history, and the occurrence of LWs located nearby closed-crown FM stands. Therefore, afforestation in those LWs through site preparation and plantation could shift back LW into FM stands. We implemented an experimental design with different combinations of silvicultural treatments in both site types (LW, FM). We monitored the evolution of plant diversity and the physiology of three bio-indicators (Picea mariana, Kalmia angustifolia, Rhododendron groenlandicum) in different microsites created by the silvicultural treatments. The return to the initial composition was noticed only two years after treatments, especially in the LW stands, thus indicating a higher level of early ecosystem resilience in LWs compared to FM stands. Mean species cover, especially in the FM stands, decreased the most in the skid trails created by logging, probably due to a lack of acclimation of bryophytes to open stand conditions. Conversely, ericaceous shrubs and lichens found in the LWs were already acclimated to open stand conditions, which give to LWs a restructuring advantage compared to FM plant communities after silvicultural treatments. Overall, FM and LW short-term resilience was similar, indicating equally efficient ecosystem reorganization in both stands. The comparable early resilience in managed LW and FM stands, in terms of plant biodiversity, contradicts the presumed fragility of LW stands, especially in this case where LWs are assumed to be an alternative stable state created by compound disturbances. Silvicultural treatments maintained the functional group diversity in LWs, a key element for ecosystem resilience. Therefore, this study support the idea that plantation following site preparation in LWs could be a valuable management strategy to reach several objectives, such as increasing forest carbon sinks.
Esteban Gonzalez; François Hébert; Jean-François Boucher; Pascal Sirois; Daniel Lord. Lichen-Spruce Woodland Early Indicators of Ecological Resilience Following Silvicultural Disturbances in Québec’s Closed-Crown Forest Zone. American Journal of Plant Sciences 2013, 04, 749 -765.
AMA StyleEsteban Gonzalez, François Hébert, Jean-François Boucher, Pascal Sirois, Daniel Lord. Lichen-Spruce Woodland Early Indicators of Ecological Resilience Following Silvicultural Disturbances in Québec’s Closed-Crown Forest Zone. American Journal of Plant Sciences. 2013; 04 (03):749-765.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Gonzalez; François Hébert; Jean-François Boucher; Pascal Sirois; Daniel Lord. 2013. "Lichen-Spruce Woodland Early Indicators of Ecological Resilience Following Silvicultural Disturbances in Québec’s Closed-Crown Forest Zone." American Journal of Plant Sciences 04, no. 03: 749-765.
To mitigate greenhouse gas and comply with cap-and-trade systems, the carbon capture and storage (CCS) is presently unviable for industrials dealing with low concentration of CO2 emissions. Alternatively, a new offset opportunity is being analysed in Canada: the afforestation of open woodlands (OWs) in the boreal territory. The results obtained from model simulations (with CBM-CFS3) showed that afforestation of boreal OWs can be a low C-intensive mitigation activity, in particular when understory planting is the chosen silvicultural approach, so that only 8–12 years are needed to reach a net positive C balance with the afforestation of OWs. A large-scale afforestation of boreal OWs – scheduled at 20 kha per year during 20 years for a maximum of 400 kha – could provide capped industrials with a significant offset potential, for instance up to nearly 8% offset of all Québec industrial process emissions (2009 data) after 45 years. In spite of a certain number of issues that can contribute to the uncertainty of the real environmental and economical benefits from the afforestation of OWs as a mitigation activity – most of which issues are discussed in this paper – this study presented a first glimpse at the extent to which the afforestation of boreal OWs in Québec can provide large emitters with eventually substantial and efficient GHG offset potential, especially those emitters tied up with incompressible GHG emissions.
J.-F. Boucher; P. Tremblay; S. Gaboury; C. Villeneuve. Can boreal afforestation help offset incompressible GHG emissions from Canadian industries? Process Safety and Environmental Protection 2012, 90, 459 -466.
AMA StyleJ.-F. Boucher, P. Tremblay, S. Gaboury, C. Villeneuve. Can boreal afforestation help offset incompressible GHG emissions from Canadian industries? Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 2012; 90 (6):459-466.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ.-F. Boucher; P. Tremblay; S. Gaboury; C. Villeneuve. 2012. "Can boreal afforestation help offset incompressible GHG emissions from Canadian industries?" Process Safety and Environmental Protection 90, no. 6: 459-466.
We examined how white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings planted under a mature cover of white and red (Pinus resinosa Ait.) pine in eastern Ontario (Canada) responded to treatments aimed at improving light and soil conditions for seedling growth. The treatments were: (a) three levels of partial cutting (no cut or CS0, cut to one-crown spacing between residual trees or CS1, cut to two-crown spacing or CS2); (b) two levels of vegetation control (without herbicide or H0, with herbicide or H1); and (c) two levels of soil scarification (S0 and S1). On the third growing season after planting, total growth of seedlings was lowest in CS0 treatment and similar in CS1 and CS2 treatments. The CS2 created better growing light conditions than the CS1, with and average of 50% of full light at seedling height, which corresponded to the maximum height and diameter growth rates of seedlings. However, CS2 also stimulated the growth of competing woody vegetation (both understory trees and shrubs), and resulted in greater microsite heterogeneity of light availability. Scarification warmed the soil (approximately 1–3 °C in the middle of the growing season), decreased the density of competing trees, but increased the shrub density, with no impact on white pine seedling growth. The treatments had no effect on light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A) of current-year foliage of seedlings, nor on their midday shoot water potential. Leaf N was higher in partial cuts and with vegetation control, but the relationship between N and A was weak to non-existent for the different foliage classes. Measures of the proportion of aboveground biomass allocated to foliage (leaf-mass ratio) suggest an acclimation response of young white pine that improves growth under moderate light availability and compensates for the lack of leaf-level photosynthetic plasticity. We suggest a combination of soil scarification under a one-crown spacing partial cut (corresponding to 14 m2 ha−1 of residual basal area, or an average of 32% of available light at seedling height) as an establishment cut. This should provide optimum growth conditions for planted understory white pine, while also favoring natural regeneration and providing some protection against damage from insects and disease.
Jean-François Boucher; Pierre Y. Bernier; Hank A. Margolis; Alison D. Munson. Growth and physiological response of eastern white pine seedlings to partial cutting and site preparation. Forest Ecology and Management 2007, 240, 151 -164.
AMA StyleJean-François Boucher, Pierre Y. Bernier, Hank A. Margolis, Alison D. Munson. Growth and physiological response of eastern white pine seedlings to partial cutting and site preparation. Forest Ecology and Management. 2007; 240 (1-3):151-164.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJean-François Boucher; Pierre Y. Bernier; Hank A. Margolis; Alison D. Munson. 2007. "Growth and physiological response of eastern white pine seedlings to partial cutting and site preparation." Forest Ecology and Management 240, no. 1-3: 151-164.