4. For the purposes of section 3, an afforestation or reforestation project must meet the following conditions(1) it is implemented in Québec;
(2) it is implemented on privately-owned land;
(3) it relies on the use of indigenous forest species that are locally sourced and ecologically adapted to the lot or part of a lot for the project.The use of non-local genotypes or non-indigenous species, for example in assisted migration, is authorized provided that a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec attests that, based on knowledge or experience, the invasive nature of the species is not an issue or, if it is, that it can be controlled and that effective mitigation measures have been put in place;
(4) no credits are issued for it for activities under another GHG emissions offset program to compensate for GHG emissions;
(5) the promoter has completed an initial characterization for the project in accordance with Chapter II of Title III;
(6) except for a project that includes agroforestry-type afforestation activities in an agricultural zone or a project designed to restore a degraded or abandoned site, any afforestation activity for the project is carried out on a lot or part of a lot assigned to non-forestry purposes that has not been developed or used for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately prior to the project;
(7) any agroforestry-type afforestation activity for the project is carried out on a lot or part of a lot that was used for an annual crop prior to the project start date;
(8) any reforestation activity for the project is carried out on a lot or part of a lot assigned to forestry purposes when the project begins;
(9) in the case of a reforestation project,(a) it targets fill planting to ensure full stocking on the lot or part of a lot for the project;
(b) it includes a reforestation activity that is not included in the forest producer’s current forest development plant and is not part of a silvicultural prescription at the project start date;
(c) its goal is not to convert a low-density natural stand into a rapid-growth plantation.
An ecosystem with a cover density of less than 25% is considered to be a low-density natural stand;
(10) in an agricultural zone, a project carried out on previously-cultivated agricultural land that includes an afforestation or reforestation activity, or both, must have received a positive assessment from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation concerning the potential for agricultural development of the managed area and recommending afforestation or reforestation.