View source for Société des établissements de plein air du Québec

{{Short description|Government agency of Canada}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Sépaq
| nativename = Société des établissements de plein air du Québec
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| logo = Logo_SEPAQ.png
| logo_width = 160px
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| jurisdiction = [[Government of Quebec]]
| headquarters = [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]], Canada
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| minister1_name = [[Benoit Charette]]
| minister1_pfo = [[Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (Quebec)|Minister of Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs]] (Sustainable development, Environment and Parks)
| chief1_name = Jacques Caron
| chief1_position = Chief Executive Officer
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| website = {{URL|www.sepaq.com}}
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The '''''Société des établissements de plein air du Québec''''' ({{IPA|fr|sɔsjete dez‿etablismɑ̃ də plɛn‿ɛʁ dy kebɛk}}, ''Quebec Outdoor Establishments Company''), also known as '''''Sépaq''''', is the agency of the [[Government of Quebec]] that manages parks and wildlife reserves. Sépaq falls under the authority of the Minister of ''[[Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (Quebec)|Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs]]'' (Sustainable development, Environment and Parks) and its head office is located in [[Quebec City]]. It employs about 3400 people.<ref name="welcome">{{cite web |url=http://www.sepaq.com/organisation/index.dot?language_id=1 |title=About us/welcome |publisher=Sépaq |access-date=2009-11-09}}</ref>
The total surface area under management by Sépaq as parks or reserves is over {{convert|80000|km2|sqmi}}. Sépaq is organized into 3 divisions called "networks":<ref name="welcome"/>
# ''Parcs Québec'' - manages 23 provincial parks ("national" parks, as they are called in Quebec) 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.
# ''Réserves fauniques'' (Wildlife reserves) - 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.
# ''Centres touristique'' (Tourist centres) - manages 9 tourist resorts. This network preserves and promotes certain historical sites and tourism facilities.
Sépaq also manages {{convert|4213|km2|sqmi}} 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.
==See also==
*[[List of protected areas of Quebec]] - list of national parks and reserves in Quebec, including those under management by Sépaq.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.sepaq.com/ Sépaq (Parcs Québec) official site]
{{Protected Areas of Quebec}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Societe des etablissements de plein air du Quebec}}
[[Category:Parks in Quebec]]
[[Category:Quebec government departments and agencies]]
[[Category:Land management]]
[[Category:Parks services]]