Northern Boreal Mountains
Stretching from northern British Columbia into southern Yukon, the Northern Boreal Mountains area is a magnificent rugged and remote region with remarkably diverse ecosystems.
The interconnected nature of this region and its diversity of habitats and geography – from mountain slopes to valley forests – means that it may offer wildlife valuable pathways for adaptation to climate change. But we are already seeing evidence of the growing impacts of a changing climate, including increasingly intense wild fires, so it is vital that we factor climate resilience into land-use plans.
Because the forests, lakes, rivers, and wetlands of this region are generally healthy, intact and connected, we see the potential to develop modern conservation-first land-use plans that can ensure the survival of species and community prosperity. But we must act before development carves the region into much less ecologically valuable fragments.
How we work
- In southern Yukon, we have tracked otters over ice and land to map critical pathways for protection across the landscape.
- In the Tintina Trench migratory flyway, we are tracking birds to identify critical sites and habitats in need of protection.
- Across the Boreal Mountains of the Yukon, we used novel computer modelling tools developed by the BEACONs project to identify large, intact areas that can accommodate natural disturbance regimes, key wildlife habitats, ecosystem representation, and watershed connectivity, providing the “ecological benchmarks” to frame land protection.
- In the mountainous Muskwa-Kechika area of northern BC, we are doing field research to help identify key habitats and wildlife populations to enhance previous conservation-based land-use planning in order to better protect the region’s wild character in the face of increased oil-and-gas development.
- We're engagine governments and First Nations in proactive planning to protect key areas and critical habitats to ensure wildlife populations remain healthy, particularly in the face of a changing climate.
Conservation challenges
- Development of the mineral riches of the Yukon and gas reserves in northern BC, and pipelines and transport corridors across the region
- Development of local sources of energy through wood biomass
- Expanding opportunities for agriculture
Where we work
Projects
Yukon Climate Change
Why we need to plan for a changing climate and landscape
Stories and op-eds
Women in conservation: Finding balance, voice, and impact
To mark International Women's Day, we sat down with Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Co-Director of our Northern Boreal Mountains program to talk about her career to date and what's kept her in the sector.Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle
Focus on Fellows: Clayton Lamb
In the latest installment of our Focus on Fellows series, we caught up with Clayton Lamb from the 2017 cohort of the Weston Boreal Research Fellowship. Read on for a taste of his life in science, from grizzly bears to caribou.
After burn: The new face of fire puts wildlife on the hot seat
How Canada’s wildlife is struggling to cope with the human-induced forcings of climate changeJustina Ray, Hilary Cooke
Media coverage
Protecting landscapes now that will matter for the future
Yukon doesn’t need species at risk legislation, environment minister says
Liard First Nation slams 'total failure' on Yukon mine consultation
Press releases
Backpacking birds shed light on conservation risks facing vulnerable Blackpoll Warblers
Blackpoll Warblers are one of the fastest declining North American songbirds, with the species having experienced an annual decline of 2.3% since 1970.
