The projects below have been conducted by Don Morgan over the last five years

Abstract

Mountain caribou, an ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), are a species at risk and so are a primary focus in forest management in the Columbia Mountains Forest District. Understanding the long-term consequences of management actions on caribou habitat is critical to develop forest management policies that minimize the risk to caribou populations while achieving other objectives such as timber extraction. Applying caribou habitat models in other spatial contexts (e.g. Golden Timber Supply Area) or temporal contexts (e.g. in a projected future forest condition) increases the uncertainty of model predictions. However these models represent the current best knowledge on caribou habitat affiliations in the area, and could be critical to assessing the impact of different management scenarios on caribou habitat. In general, wildlife habitat suitability and habitat supply models have broad application throughout the province for assessing landuse and landscape change on wildlife.

To facilitate detailed spatio-temporal landscape models sophisticated data management techniques must be employed. This ensures accessibility and consistency in information and greatly reduces the time required for model preparation.

Key project results include developing methods and techniques for the management and dissemination of spatial data through data warehousing, operationally delivered for the Columbia Mountains Forest District and the Prince Rupert Forest Region. The development of habitat suitability models for use in landscape modelling in the Columbia Mountains and habitat suitability models in the Kispiox Forest District for Caribou and Grizzly Bears. Development of a landscape model of caribou habitat and timber supply; assessing the tradeoffs between caribou habitat and timber supply in the Columbia Mountains.

LACH is a BC Ministry of Forest Research Branch project with funding assistance from Forest Renewal BC.