Irène-Fournier Ecological Reserve

IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

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The Réserve écologique Irène Fournier is an ecological reserve in the south of the Canadian province of Quebec.

It was established in 1991 on an area of ​​440 ha. It is located on the Gaspé Peninsula in the MRC La Matanie, near Matane in the Berry Mountains, more precisely between the Rivière Cascapédia and west of the Mont Noble.

The area protects a representative, albeit small proportion of deciduous and coniferous forests in the Notre-Dame- mountains of the Hauts monts Notre -Dame. In this case, the prevailing here called sapinière bouleau à blanc, so fir forest with paper birch.

The north side of Berry Mountain rises 230-700 m above sea level. The subsoil consists of clay and sandstone belonging to two geological formations, between which is a volcanic rock lens is. In supporting a thin to moderate Tilli layer with organic material.

The predominant pine birch forest covers the layers between 350 and 700 m altitude. The wetted areas with sufficient organic matter, however, are occupied by different forest types, such as the fir - gray alder, fir - black spruce, black spruce forest, etc..

The name of the protected area goes back to Irène Fournier (1912-1974), a botanist who has earned contributions to the teaching of biology and botany.