Abstract
Much of Alberta's woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) range outside protected areas is subject to commercial forest management. In this paper, I discuss some perspectives of the forest industry regarding caribou-related issues. Six forest companies holding Forest Management Agreements (FMAs) in Alberta were polled. Forest managers were most concerned about 2 aspects of caribou management: reductions of annual allowable cut (AAC) that may be necessary to provide for caribou habitat needs; and management of public access. Perceived information gaps fell into 3 categories: caribou demographics (population size, trends and densities); primary limiting factors of caribou populations (including the influence of human activity); and caribou habitat requirements (including the effects of timber harvest on caribou habitat). Increased costs associated with consideration of caribou have been incurred at the planning and operational levels. However, those costs have been low, primarily because much proposed harvest in caribou ranges has been deferred. Costs are expected to increase substantially in the future as timber from caribou ranges is required to meet harvest objectives. Other issues identified included: the desire for an adaptive management approach to caribou-forestry interactions; the need to incorporate natural-disturbance-regime models into forest planning; consideration of the cumulative effects on caribou of all industrial and recreational activities; and unmanaged harvest by First Nations people. A list of caribou-related projects conducted or supported by forest companies in Alberta during the past 5 years is provided.
Highlights
The woodland caribou {Rangifer tarandus caribou) grams to learn more about caribou and their habiwas designated as an endangered species in Alberta tat
Much of Alberta's woodland caribou range out- (FMAs) regarding caribou-related issues, including side protected areas is subject to commercial forest perceived knowledge gaps, studies done to fill those management (Fig. 1)
The proportion of the annual allowable cut (AAC) contained within caribou range may be greater than the proportion of the F M A considered as caribou range because of the reliance of caribou on older-aged stands which have greater timber volumes per area of land than younger-aged stands
Summary
The woodland caribou {Rangifer tarandus caribou) grams to learn more about caribou and their habiwas designated as an endangered species in Alberta tat. The forest industry is an important sector that development (forestry, oil and gas, mining, recreati- will help to determine the direction of woodland on, peat harvesting) has caused managers to become caribou research and management in Alberta. Much of Alberta's woodland caribou range out- (FMAs) regarding caribou-related issues, including side protected areas is subject to commercial forest perceived knowledge gaps, studies done to fill those management (Fig. 1). An F M A allows a company to harvest timber on a required forest companies to implement measures sustainable basis on a designated portion of public designed to reduce potential impacts to caribou and forest land As part of the agreement, the company must importance of maintaining caribou as a component consider the impact of logging on other forest. I have added annotation to summarize remarks and to contribute an additional perspective
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