Grant: Alliance Grants

FIRE to forage: Sustaining CARibou habitat in the Yukon (FIRESCAR) is a partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier), Université Laval, Western University, Government of Yukon (YG), Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada), Canadian Forest Service (CFS), and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation. The overarching Partnership goal is to measure, map, and forecast present and future availability of caribou forage in Central Yukon, a region home to 15 Northern Mountain caribou herds. Northern Mountain caribou (Species of Special Concern) are experiencing habitat loss and degradation due to the cumulative effects of climate warming-induced increases in fire, shifting post-fire forest recovery, and an expanding mineral exploration and development footprint. Our partners require information to help guide evidence-based land use decisions in the face of expected climate change-induced increases in wildfire activity, and cascading effects on caribou habitat including changes in forest composition, which impact the availability of forage lichen used by caribou. This is a challenge that governments are facing across Canada with caribou populations declining in response to cumulative effects at a national scale meaning tools arising from this project have national relevance. Project deliverables link to land use planning, species-at-risk management, environmental assessments, cumulative-effects management, and climate-change adaptation. These deliverables will advance management objectives in the Yukon. Work completed through FIRESCAR will directly support our understanding of climate change-related disturbances and improve our cumulative effects management and thresholds for caribou in the Yukon and Canada. Caribou habitat is a critical component of the development of caribou herd range assessments which provide herd specific management guidance. FIRESCAR will allow for improved decision-making and incorporation of future changes to lichen distribution and caribou habitat.