Société des établissements de plein air du Québec
Encyclopedia
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
that manages parks and wildlife reserves. Sépaq falls under the authority of the Minister of Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (Quebec)
The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks is responsible for the provincial reserves, parks and, environmental policy and land development in the province of Quebec.The current minister is Pierre Arcand.-External links:*...
(Sustainable development, Environment and Parks) and its head office is located in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. It employs some 3400 people.
The total surface area under management by Sépaq as parks or reserves is over 80000 square kilometres (30,888.2 sq mi). Sépaq is organized into 3 divisions called "networks":
- Parcs Québec - manages 23 provincial parks ("national" parks, as they are called in Quebec) that are officially recognized as protected areas. Parcs Québec works to ensure the protection and preservation of these significant ecosystems, where low-impact activities such as hiking, canoeing and camping are preferred while protecting sensitive zones and keeping environmental impacts to a minimum.
- Réserves fauniques (Wildlife reserves) - manages 15 wildlife reserves in forested and wilderness areas. These areas are dedicated to the conservation, promotion, and use of wildlife resources, and, secondarily, to the practice of outdoor recreational activities. They are not considered protected areas under the criteria of the IUCN.
- Centres touristique (Tourist centres) - manages 9 tourist resorts. This network preserves and promotes certain historical sites and tourism facilities.
Sépaq also manages 4213 square kilometres (1,626.6 sq mi) of Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island is an island at the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in Quebec, Canada, between 49° and 50° N., and between 61° 40' and 64° 30' W. At in size, it is the 90th largest island in the world and 20th largest island in Canada...
as a separate division not part of the other networks. Sépaq Anticosti promotes tourism on the island, particularly hunting and fishing tours.
See also
- List of protected areas of Quebec - list of national parks and reserves in Quebec, including those under management by Sépaq.