This document is a ground-level look at boreal woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta: their status, their habitat, the pressures they face, and what is needed for their recovery in this province. It is intended to guide those working on creating robust, scientifically-sound range plans designed to bring Alberta’s boreal woodland caribou back from extremely low population numbers. This document synthesizes current science and range planning knowledge on boreal woodland caribou with herd-level understanding in northeast Alberta. Our hope is that it inspires the province of Alberta to better protect this important animal by creating solid, evidence-based range and action plans.
Volume one of this three-part series specifically addresses boreal woodland caribou ranges in northeastern Alberta – the Red Earth, West Side Athabasca River (“WSAR”), East Side Athabasca River (“ESAR”), Richardson, Cold Lake, Nipisi, and Slave Lake boreal woodland caribou ranges. Two more reports will be released by CPAWS Northern Alberta over the course of 2016: the Little Smoky ranges report, and a report on northwestern ranges.