To design a reserve network that will conserve current and future caribou ranges while minimizing economic loss to industry.
This goal will be met by identifying high value caribou habitat under current and future climate conditions, locating and quantifying the value of significant natural resources, and comparing the ecological benefits and economic costs of protecting either 17%, 50% or 80% of all caribou range within the MRB.
This goal will be met by identifying high value caribou habitat under current and future climate conditions, locating and quantifying the value of significant natural resources, and comparing the ecological benefits and economic costs of protecting either 17%, 50% or 80% of all caribou range within the MRB.
To accomplish this analysis, we used caribou as an "umbrella species" to represent the overall ecosystem health. The umbrella species concept is a single-species conservation approach which suggests that conserving certain wide-ranging species can provide a “protective umbrella” for other co-occurring species. Learn More
Furthermore, the effects of climate change are already present within the MRB. Winter temperatures have increased over 3 °C since 1948, well ahead of global averages. Therefore, it is imperative to include how climate change will shift caribou distributions so our conservation areas are relevant into the future. Learn More
Furthermore, the effects of climate change are already present within the MRB. Winter temperatures have increased over 3 °C since 1948, well ahead of global averages. Therefore, it is imperative to include how climate change will shift caribou distributions so our conservation areas are relevant into the future. Learn More