Marie-Jean-Eudes Ecological Reserve

IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

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The Réserve écologique Marie -Jean -Eudes is an ecological reserve in the Canadian province of Québec.

It was established in 1992 on an area of ​​845 ha. It is in the MRC Maskinongé, about 30 km northwest of Saint -Gérard -des- Laurentides north of Lac Shawinigan. At the same time it is part of the Réserve faunique Mastigouche where the name indeed suggests an animal welfare, however, recreational and industrial activities are permitted.

The area protects the middle of the Laurentians Mauricie, where sugar maple and yellow birch dominate. It rises from 335 m high Lac Shawinigan up to about 425 m above sea level in the northwest. The subsoil consists of Precambrian gneiss in the last ice age, this layer of tillite was superimposed. At lower altitudes, this layer is more powerful, in the higher and steeper correspondingly thinner. Along the waters added sandy deposits, but also organic layers, to bogs.

Deciduous trees cover the south and west mostly, American beech, and yellow birch are also above 400 m; in the rest of dominant conifers. Otherwise, there are four forest types: pure black spruce forest, pine forest with black spruce, black spruce forest with Weymouth pine (French pin blanc) and fir forest with ponderosa pine.

The name of the protected area goes back to Marie -Jean -Eudes ( Marie- Bernadette Tellier ) ( 1897-1978 ), a botanist. She has published articles on the geology, botany and biology and was one of those who has contributed most to the dissemination of botanical knowledge about the professional circles.