Prior to the arrival of European settlers, boreal forests of white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) were present throughout the boreal region and maintained by local disturbances. Anthropogenic practices and in particular the implementation of poor forest management (fire suppression, unsustainable management) during the last century have resulted in the decrease of their historical range.
My thesis aims to understand the impact of surface fires on the regeneration of mixed and pure white pine (P. strobus L.) and red pine (P. resinosa Ait.) forests in order to propose management plans for these species. My work is based on the analysis of pollen and charcoal from lake sediment cores from several lakes in the Mauricie Park (Quebec, Canada).