Between December 2002 and March 2007, the RIG held 11 workshops in order to complete the Recovery Action Plan for northern caribou . This plan was published as FORREX Series 22 in March 2008.
The Recovery Action Plan focuses on operational definitions for survival and recovery habitats using a habitat supply model called the Caribou Habitat Assessment and Supply Estimator (CHASE). Successive runs of this model were conducted for five seasonal ranges across four planning areas using natural disturbance simulations as base case scenarios to estimate a range of likely habitat values under those unmanaged conditions. Resulting values for seasonal ranges were used as a baseline reference point to set context for subsequent development of herd-specific recovery actions. Theoretical potential values for seasonal ranges were also calculated, plotted as maps, and used as a second reference point to further the recovery context.
Recovery Actions Summary:
- Focused on natural disturbance patterns (Range of Natural Variation) so as to pay attention to other values for biodiversity
- Maintaining ½ low-elevation ranges (in Chase and Wolverine) in productive age classes at all times
- Emphasis on large-patch management
- Putting onus on proponents to demonstrate compatible with recovery
- Recovery favours habitat management and using wildlife management only when combined with habitat management
- Monitoring to include census and evaluation of seasonal ranges
- Research
Key Uncertainties:
- Short-term management of predation risk in movement corridors
- Mountain pine beetle effect on low-elevation ranges
- Climate change
Key Conclusions:
- Critical habitat can be estimated using CHASE
- Self-sustaining herds will occur at lower population numbers than were likely experienced historically
- Likelihood of recovery is high for Chase, moderate for Wolverine, low for Takla, and unlikely for Scott
- Implementation is not currently within the scope of the RIG but may be after the recovery plan is approved
