The Territory The Reserve The importance of water A diversification of land and marine wildlife A unique geological personality From a stony soil to the gourmet’s table An evergreen forest hiding a variety of unique tree species 
The Territory
The Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve extends along the St. Lawrence River shoreline from the village of Petite Rivière St-Francois running northeast to the village of St-Fidèle; it extends into the river and includes l’Ile aux Coudres. Westward, it spreads deep inland to include Le Massif via La Rivière du Gouffre watershed which ends at Le Parc National des Grands Jardins The northbound limit runs alongside the Réserve faunique des Laurentides and includes Le Parc National des Hautes-Gorges de-la-Rivière-Malbaie as well as the totality of its watershed. The land area of the Reserve covers approximately 457,000 hectares and includes approximately 30,000 permanent residents.
Components of the Reserve
QFD Réserves
Every Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO must include a Central Zone, a Buffer Zone and a Cooperation Zone. It is within the cooperation zone that the majority of the people live, work and collaborate on the sustainable management of the Reserve’s resources.
The Central Zone
Consist of approximately 650 km2 of land. Located within the central zone are two national parks, Le Parc national des Grands-Jardins and Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie as well as an ecological zone, Centre écologique de Port-au-Saumon.The Buffer and Cooperation Zones
Forming the primary Buffer Zone is approximately 40,000 square km of provincial, private forest and land areas sustaining hunting and fishing activities.
Forestry activities may be allowed in the Buffer zone. However, to preserve the integrity of the territory and the quality of the scenery these activities must be undertaken in consultation with the regulatory authorities.
The Cooperation Zone covers a large part of the territory where most Charlevoix residents live. As well, this zone is the regional hub of social, cultural and economic activities primarily consisting of agricultural, artistic, maritime and tourism activities.
The Importance of Water
Long salmon rivers run inside the territory:
Du Gouffre : drainage basin of 1000 square km
Malbaie : 125 km in length with a drainage basin of 1850 square km.
Rivière Jean Noël : A narrow River with 132 square km drainage. This River runs through a busy agricultural zone utilizing a large volume of its water.
More than1200 lakes, that are at least one hectare in area drain into the many creeks and slow flowing rivers that forms the scenic mountainous landscape that appears to rolls into the sea. The St. Lawrence River is locally referred to as the sea. The St. Lawrence River is locally referred to as the sea because it is salted tidal water at this point.
A St. Lawrence River marine area extending from periphery of l’Ile-aux-Coudres and extending northeast to Cap-à-l’Aigle, is a habitat frequented by Beluga Whales for feeding, mating and birthing. It is also a spawning area for many fish, especially a plentiful local smelt known as Capelan.
Sustaining a diversification of land and marine wildlife
A numerous variety of birds live in the biosphere throughout the year. The Goldeneyed Duck spends the winter on the coastal zone then after birthing, in the back country lakes, they migrate north for the summer. In the spring the Eider down floats in the wind and the females join to protect their babies from the cormorants and the sea gulls.
The Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve is home to the usual species found in the Boreal forest including moose and deer. This reserve is also one of the few areas in Canada where the introduction of caribou herd, although still vulnerable, has been successful.
The northwest mountain range heights provide the habitat for a population of intact Brook Trout. The genetic pool of this rare specie has not been affected by the introduction of other domestic species into their habitat, which is an unusual exception in North America. One of the most studied birds, the loon, is in abundance.
Unique geological development
The bed rock foundation of Charlevoix is part of the Precambrian shield. The large costal escarpment corresponds with numerous fault lines. An interesting exception within the Charlevoix region is l’Ile-aux-Coudres. Although the island is part of Charlevoix Biosphere, it geologically belongs to the Appalachian region on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.
Geological Personality : The greater area of the Charlevoix region was formed approximately 350,000,000 years ago from the impact of a huge meteorite measuring two kilometres of diameter and weighing 15 billions tons.
The photograph by Arnaud Guymard beautifully illustrates this reality.
A shaky past still trembling: The Charlevoix is the most active seismic zone in Eastern Canada. However, most of the earthquakes happen under the St-Lawrence River.
Pour consulter la carte des séismes de Charlevoix survenus au cours de la dernière année
From a stony soil to the gourmet’s table
The agricultural lands, which are rarely flat, ranges from high quality agriculture lands, which are well supported by complimentary microclimates, to areas severely limited by poor soil, climatic conditions, drainage and severe slopes. Agriculture is an integral part of the geographical reality of the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve in addition to its economic importance to the region. Charlevoix agricultural products are particularly renowned for quality, diversity, and the unique Charlevoix flavour.
While the number of agricultural enterprises has been decreasing over the last 20 years, net agricultural revenues over last 10 years have increased. The entire agricultural land area comprises less than 10% of the region and less than 45% of the agricultural lands are in production. The average age of farmers is 48 with 26% over 55.
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A forest with multiple zones
The Charlevoix forest is primarily comprised of fir evergreens. However, depending on the altitude and sun exposure the forest also includes species ranging from maple trees to open tundra. Within the southern maritime zones, primarily along the St. Lawrence River, there are many varieties of established fruit trees all of which have been introduced by man. Vergers Pedneault
From 0 to 300 meters elevation: Yellow Birch, Striped Maple, Dogwood, Staghorn Sumac and Blue-bed lily
From 300 to 600 meters elevation: Predominantly Fir trees, Hazelnuts, Red Elder and Yew Trees.
From 600 to 900 meters : Krummholz, Black Spruce and Balsam. There is also an abundance of lichens and a variety of wild berry bushes.
Over 950 meters: Tundra or Taiga. Vegetation is dwarfed but spectacular and fascinating.
Parc national des Grands-Jardins
