The primary mission of the CARCLIQUE Chair is to develop knowledge for better carbon reservoir management to contribute to climate change mitigation. The Chair's objectives are to:

1. Implement a research program that will support mechanisms to improve terrestrial carbon management by preserving existing stocks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and optimizing the potential of natural areas to mitigate atmospheric release, taking into account both land-use planning practices and climate projections.;

2. Address the knowledge gap regarding the effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances on the terrestrial carbon budgets of Quebec and northeastern Canada (southern, boreal, subarctic, and arctic regions) to better understand their contribution to the global carbon cycle, to which they are intimately linked (i.e., GHG emissions vs. sequestration);

3. Develop technological transfer from interactive databases accessible to various governmental and non-governmental institutions in Quebec and Northern communities. The potential consequences of climate change or various anthropogenic pressures on the functional integrity of wetlands must be integrated into decisions for the maintenance of ecosystem services provided by these environments.

4. Contribute to refining models of wetland response to climate change to quantify the radiative forcing of these ecosystems. Recent empirical data suggest an increase in accumulation in response to climate change in contexts, such as eastern Canada, where water balances are increasing.

5. Define a communication and outreach program that involves northern communities, among others, on the importance of conserving and responsibly managing wetlands and forests to counteract climate change.

Forested swamp, Oka

Permafrost peatland, Salluit

Salt marsh, Barachois, Gaspésie

Wooded bog, Grande Tourbière Jacques-Cartier

Ombrotrophic peatland, Mauricie