Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Last updated
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
Formation2004
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Key people
 Justina Ray President & Senior Scientist
Affiliations Wildlife Conservation Society International (WCS)

The Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada), based in Toronto, Ontario, is the Canadian affiliate of the Wildlife Conservation Society International (WCS), incorporated as a conservation organization in Canada in July 2004. [1] WCS Canada currently runs conservation projects across six key regions in Canada led by its staff of field-based scientists. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Contents

WCS Canada is an environmental organization that generates science through applied field-based research and uses this research to achieve conservational goals. Issues addressed by the group include protected area design, wildlife monitoring and recovery, ecosystem restoration, and community-based conservation.

Mission

The stated mission of WCS Canada is:

"The Wildlife Conservation Society Canada conserves wildlife and wild places by understanding the issues, developing science-based solutions, and working with others to carry out conservation actions across Canada." [1]

History

WCS' engagement in Canada dates back to 1905 when William Hornaday (one of the founders of the New York Zoological Society, the original name of WCS) visited the Crowsnest Pass in southeast British Columbia and called for the conservation of the area where - 100 years later - WCS Canada still has a major conservation presence. [10] In 1912, WCS was a principal architect of the Alaskan Fur Seal Treaty, and the Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada, USA and Mexico. [11] Between 1949 and 1981, WCS supported various activities in Canada, including arctic expeditions to Bylot Island and research on seals, merlin, whooping cranes, polar bears, and bowhead whales. Beginning in 1997 WCS scientist, John Weaver performed Canada lynx surveys in Kootenay and Banff National Parks, and WCS involvement in Canada has been continuous ever since. WCS Canada was established as an organization in 2004 and has since expanded to numerous field projects in six regions of Canada (Arctic, Northern Appalachians, Northern Ontario, Northern Boreal Mountains, Southern Rocky Mountains, and Nahanni National Park) and maintains involvement in a number of WCS global programs. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Conservation of wildlife and wild places

WCS Canada works to conserve wildlife and wild places by focusing their field research on six regions of Canada and across a suite of ecologically important species. Their research addresses ecological threats associated with global climate change, natural resource extraction, and habitat fragmentation. By focusing on a strategic portfolio of species including woodland caribou, wolverine, Canada lynx, lake trout, and American bison, WCS Canada extends its understanding of conservation needs beyond individual sites and threats.

WCS Canada also provides science to decision-makers providing a critical foundation for credible decision-making. It also plays a crucial role in helping decision-makers and the general public understand the risks and impacts of choices for wildlife and ecosystems. WCS Canada scientists are informing land-use planning and related policies by generating science and by applying findings to relevant conservation processes. The results and expertise derived from WCS research and its partners have a demonstrated track record of improving policies and legislation to conserve northern wildlife and habitats. [7] [8] [12] [13] [14]

WCS Canada is working on transboundary conservation in the Northern Appalachian\Acadia Ecoregion that extends from New York State to Nova Scotia in collaboration with Two Countries, One Forest, focusing on wildlife connectivity, mapping the Human Footprint and studying the ecology of small carnivores (e.g. lynx and marten). [2] Their work in Northern Ontario, the largest intact boreal forest in North America, addresses the threats of development and climate change to wildlife and fish including caribou, wolverine, wolves, Canada lynx, lake sturgeon, walleye, and lake trout. [3] [4] [5] WCS scientists are also working in the Northern Boreal Mountains in Yukon and northern British Columbia where government-mandated land use planning is proceeding region by region. These planning processes allow WCS scientists to engage in land use zoning and protected area delineation by providing new science, technical support, and stakeholder commentary. Their current research in this region includes a study on the value of valley bottom habitats for wildlife, habitat management for caribou, and mapping intact, priority ecosystems. [6] In the Southern Rocky Mountains, WCS is working to evaluate high-quality habitat and connectivity for a suite of sensitive species including grizzly bears, wolverines, lynx, elk, mountain goats, bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout. [7] [12] [13] [14]

Recently, WCS Canada conducted research on three focal species in Nahanni National Park Reserve - grizzly bear, caribou and Dall sheep. These studies provided scientific support for a massive expansion of Nahanni National Park (from 1,862 square miles to 12,000 square miles) to help ensure its ecological integrity. [9] WCS Canada also undertook research in the Western Arctic including understanding the terrestrial food web, assessing the threat of mining, and polar bear conservation. [8]

While an independent organisation, WCS Canada is an integral part of a network of WCS Global Programs. Some of the global conservation projects that WCS Canada is involved in include wildlife health, the conservation of the Ituri Forest of DR Congo, the community-managed forests of Madagascar, conservation of tigers in nine countries (Cambodia, PR China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, and Thailand), and conservation of the Iranian cheetah.

Major conservation achievements

In 2018, WCS Canada improved tracking of wolverine populations through tagging in northern Ontario's boreal forest. They nurtured deep relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada to inform wildlife conservation projects "given the significant local knowledge" and "community-based monitoring". They worked with First Nations communities in Yukon and northern British Columbia by sharing WCS Canada's "expertise on conservation of fish and wildlife species to assist with the designing protected areas". In northern Ontario they worked with Moose Cree First Nation on a study of the "differences in lake sturgeon behavior in dammed and undammed rivers." They worked with Inuvialuit communities in the western Arctic, to "monitor seal health and diet as an indicator of the broader health of Arctic marine ecosystems." [15] Scientists at Thompson Rivers University and McMaster University worked with WCS researchers to find solutions for white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS has "eradicated millions of bats in eastern North America." [15] The WCS Canada Arctic research team monitored "ship noise and whale communications" for "potential impacts of increased ship traffic and noise" on whales and other marine mammals in the Northwest Passage. [15] WCS Canada's scientists worked on a "blueprint" for the proposed Bighorn Wildland Provincial Park which would protect the Bighorn Backcountry adjacent to Banff National Park", an area that "connects to the larger Rocky Mountain corridor and helps keep clean mountain water flowing through central Alberta". [15]

COSEWIC

WCS Canada President, Justina C. Ray, served on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee for nine years. [16] [17] She served as their point of contact scientist on matters related to caribou and other terrestrial mammals. [18] COSEWIC is the "body that undertakes assessments of Canada’s wildlife species under the federal Species at Risk Act." In November 2011, COSEWIC voted to accept the Designatable Unit (DU) structure for caribou in Canada based on the Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee's report. [17] In her presentation at the 14th North American Caribou Workshop in November 2012, Justina Ray described her work with COSEWIC in developing the twelve Designatable units (DUs) for caribou in Canada. [19] In a 2019 Globe and Mail article, Ray explained that the 11 Designatable units are categorized as "distinct because of a combination of their habitat, ecology, and genetic differences. Some units contain only one herd; larger units have dozens." [20]

In her October 31, 2018 article in Canadian Geographic , Ray described how their "single most challenging task was systematically evaluating the status of these 11 groups of caribou. The committee did this through the production of six status assessment reports during the period from 2012 to 2017, which involved the collective efforts of hundreds of people. For each report, it took two to three years to assemble the data (including Indigenous knowledge), then compile them into a comprehensive report, subject the report to robust review, before finally delivering the results to the COSEWIC table for a vote on status. [16]

Related Research Articles

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The wolverine, also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The wolverine has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reindeer</span> Species of deer, also known as caribou

The reindeer or caribou is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations. It is the only representative of the genus Rangifer. Herd size varies greatly in different geographic regions. More recent studies suggest the splitting of reindeer and caribou into six distinct species over their range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada lynx</span> Medium-sized wild cat

The Canada lynx, or Canadian lynx, is a medium-sized North American lynx that ranges across Alaska, Canada, and northern areas of the contiguous United States. It is characterized by its long, dense fur, triangular ears with black tufts at the tips, and broad, snowshoe-like paws. Its hindlimbs are longer than the forelimbs, so its back slopes downward to the front. The Canada lynx stands 48–56 cm (19–22 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 5 and 17 kg. The lynx is a good swimmer and an agile climber. The Canada lynx was first described by Robert Kerr in 1792. Three subspecies have been proposed, but their validity is doubted; it is mostly considered a monotypic species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innoko National Wildlife Refuge</span> National wildlife refuge in Alaska, USA

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Migratory woodland caribou</span> Subspecies of deer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porcupine caribou</span> Subspecies of deer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peary caribou</span> Subspecies of deer

The Peary caribou is a subspecies of caribou found in the High Arctic islands of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in Canada. They are the smallest of the North American caribou, with the females weighing an average of 60 kg (130 lb) and the males 110 kg (240 lb). In length the females average 1.4 m and the males 1.7 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge</span>

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge covering about 19.16 million acres (77,500 km2) in southwestern Alaska. It is the second-largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, only slightly smaller than the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is a coastal plain extending to the Bering Sea, covering the delta created by the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. The delta includes extensive wetlands near sea level that are often inundated by Bering Sea tides. It is bordered on the east by Wood-Tikchik State Park, the largest state park in the United States. The refuge is administered from offices in Bethel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Canada</span> Overview of the wildlife of Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge</span> National wildlife refuge in central Alaska, United States

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in central Alaska, United States. One of 16 refuges in Alaska, it was established in 1980 when Congress passed The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). At 1,640,000 acres (6,600 km2), Kanuti Refuge is about the size of the state of Delaware. Located at the Arctic Circle, the refuge is a prime example of Alaska's boreal ecosystem. It is dominated by black and white spruce, with some white birch and poplars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge</span> Conservation area in Alaska

The Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,500,000-acre (14,000 km2) conservation area in Alaska. It lies within the floodplain of the Koyukuk River, in a basin that extends from the Yukon River to the Purcell Mountains and the foothills of the Brooks Range. This region of wetlands is home to fish, waterfowl, beaver and Alaskan moose, and wooded lowlands where two species of fox, bears, wolf packs, Canadian lynx and marten prowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boreal woodland caribou</span> Subspecies of caribou or reindeer in North America

The boreal woodland caribou, also known as eastern woodland caribou, boreal forest caribou and forest-dwelling caribou, is a North American subspecies of reindeer found primarily in Canada with small populations in the United States. Unlike the Porcupine caribou and barren-ground caribou, boreal woodland caribou are primarily sedentary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin-Union caribou</span> Migratory population of caribou

Dolphin and Union Caribou, Dolphin and Union caribou herd, Dolphin-Union, locally known as Island Caribou, are a migratory population of barren-ground caribou, Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus, that occupy Victoria Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and the nearby mainland. They are endemic to Canada. They migrate across the Dolphin and Union Strait from their summer grazing on Victoria Island to their winter grazing area on the Nunavut-Northwest Territories mainland in Canada. It is unusual for North American caribou to seasonally cross sea ice and the only other caribou to do so are the Peary caribou who are smaller in size and population. They were listed as Endangered by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) since November 2017.

Caribou herds in Canada are discrete populations of seven subspecies that are represented in Canada. Caribou can be found from the High Arctic region south to the boreal forest and Rocky Mountains and from the east to the west coasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reindeer distribution</span> Reindeer distribution around the world

The reindeer is a widespread and numerous species in the northern Holarctic, being present in both tundra and taiga. Originally, the reindeer was found in Scandinavia, eastern Europe, Russia, Mongolia, and northern China north of the 50th latitude. In North America, it was found in Canada, Alaska, and the northern contiguous USA from Washington to Maine. In the 19th century, it was apparently still present in southern Idaho. It also occurred naturally on Sakhalin, Greenland, and probably even in historical times in Ireland.

References

  1. 1 2 Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. “About Us”. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Two Countries One Forest. “Partners”. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Magoun, A.J., J.C. Ray, D. S Johnson, P. Valkenburg, N. Dawson and J. Bowman. 2007. Modeling Wolverine Occurrence Using Aerial Surveys of Tracks in Snow. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(7):2221–2229.
  4. 1 2 3 Magoun, A.J., K. F. Abraham, J. E. Thompson, J.C. Ray, M.E. Gauthier, G. Brown, G. Woolmer, C. Chenier, and N. Dawson. 2005. Distribution and relative abundance of caribou in the Hudson Bay Lowland of Ontario. Rangifer. Special Issue No. 16, p105-121.
  5. 1 2 3 Freshwater fish in Ontario's boreal: Status, Conservation and Potential Impacts of Development. David R. Browne. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 2. September 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 Strategic Conservation Assessment for the Northern Boreal Mountains of Yukon and British Columbia. Don Reid, Brian Pelchat and John Weaver. WCS Canada Conservation Report #5. May 2010
  7. 1 2 3 4 Carnivores in the Southern Canadian Rockies: Core Areas and Connectivity Across the Crowsnest Highway. Clayton D. Apps, John L. Weaver, Paul C. Paquet, Bryce Bateman, Bruce N. McLellan. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 3, September 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Daniel Gallant, Brian G. Slough, Donald G. Reid & Dominique Berteaux. 2004. Arctic fox versus red fox in the warming Arctic: four decades of den surveys in north Yukon. Polar Biology, (27) 9.
  9. 1 2 3 Parks Canada. “Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada”. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Weaver, John L. The Transboundry Flathead: A Critical Landscape for Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains. WCS Working Paper No. 18, July 2001. Available for download from .
  11. ↑ Wildlife Conservation Society North America Program. “About Us”. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  12. 1 2 The Transboundary Flathead: A Critical Landscape for Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains. John Weaver. WCS Working Papers No. 18. 2001.
  13. 1 2 Chetkiewicz, C-L. B., C.C. St. Clair, and M.S. Boyce. 2006. Corridors for Conservation: Integrating Pattern and Process. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 37: 317-342.
  14. 1 2 Carnivores and Corridors in the Crowsnest Pass. Chetkiewicz, C-L. and Boyce, M.S. 2002. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 50. Edmonton, AB.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "WCS Canada Annual Report 2018". 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  16. 1 2 Ray, Justina C. (October 31, 2018). "At risk of extinction". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Designatable Units for Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Canada" (PDF), COSEWIC, Ottawa, Ontario: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, p. 88, December 23, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2019, retrieved May 17, 2019
  18. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2016-12-21). "COSEWIC press release: December 2016" (news releases;assessments). GCNWS (Press release). Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  19. ↑ LanduseKNundefined (Director). Justina Ray - Caribou designatable units in Canada and implications for assessment and recovery. Event occurs at 1655 seconds. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  20. ↑ Semeniuk, Ivan (October 29, 2018). "Across Canada, caribou are on course for extinction, a prominent expert warns. What happens after that?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 19, 2019.updated February 18, 2019
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