Société des établissements de plein air du Québec


The Société des établissements de plein air du Québec is the agency of the Government of Quebec that manages parks and wildlife reserves. Sépaq falls under the authority of the Minister of Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs and its head office is located in Quebec City. It employs some 3400 people.
The total surface area under management by Sépaq as parks or reserves is over. Sépaq is organized into 3 divisions called "networks":
  1. Parcs Québec - manages 23 provincial parks 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.
  2. Réserves fauniques - 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.
  3. Centres touristique - manages 9 tourist resorts. This network preserves and promotes certain historical sites and tourism facilities.
Sépaq also manages of Anticosti Island as a separate division not part of the other networks. Sépaq Anticosti promotes tourism on the island, particularly hunting and fishing tours.