Over the next five years, Can-Peat will quantify the potential of peatland management in Canada to contribute to climate change mitigation. The research supports Canada's commitment to reach net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Specific objectives are to: 

1. Create a Canada-wide peatland research network   

2. Compile a database on peatland carbon stocks, greenhouse gas exchange, and supporting data across Canada

3. Advance models of peatland carbon cycling from site to national scale and use these models to evaluate future peatland greenhouse gas uptake or emission under changing climate and disturbance regimes 

4. Investigate mechanisms to implement peatland nature-based solutions in Canada and develop a decision-support framework for peatland management 

5. Communicate findings to partners and provide the tools needed for climate-friendly peatland management and greenhouse gas emission reporting related to these activities. 

Can-Peat: Canada's peatlands as nature-based climate solutions is funded through the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. Administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada, $15.8 million is being allocating to six University of Waterloo research projects to identify solutions to environmental challenges. Nationally the Climate Action Awareness Fund was part of a $58 million announcement by Minister Guilbeault for research projects that will advance science and technology to combat climate change.

This is a webinar series hosted by the Canadian Conservation and Land Management (CCLM) knowledge network on topics related to land management, wetlands, and boreal caribou conservation in Canada. At each webinar, experts in their fields share knowledge and expertise of value to practitioners and managers. The webinars are recorded so that they can be viewed by those who were unable to attend the live event. Webinars held to date are:

• Advancing Conservation Outcomes Through Research, Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange - October 28, 2021
• Monitoring Environmental Impacts Through Remote Sensing - February 17, 2022

• The Application of Drone and Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle Technology in Conservation Work - February 28, 2023

• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Expert Panel on Canada's Carbon Sink Potential - May 24, 2023

• Intensive Forest Management Across Canada: Panel Discussion - November 8, 2023

• 2030 Nature Strategy: Panel Discussion - September 5, 2024

• Wildfire: Panel Discussion - February 27, 2025

• Ecosystem Mapping - May 6, 2025

This is a webinar series hosted by the Canadian Conservation and Land Management (CCLM) knowledge network on topics related to land management, wetlands, and boreal caribou conservation in Canada. At each webinar, experts in their fields share knowledge and expertise of value to practitioners and managers. The webinars are recorded so that they can be viewed by those who were unable to attend the live event. Webinars held to date are:

• Advancing Conservation Outcomes Through Research, Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange - October 28, 2021
• Monitoring Environmental Impacts Through Remote Sensing - February 17, 2022

• The Application of Drone and Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle Technology in Conservation Work - February 28, 2023

• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Expert Panel on Canada's Carbon Sink Potential - May 24, 2023

• Intensive Forest Management Across Canada: Panel Discussion - November 8, 2023

• 2030 Nature Strategy: Panel Discussion - September 5, 2024

• Wildfire: Panel Discussion - February 27, 2025

• Ecosystem Mapping - May 6, 2025

This is a webinar series hosted by the Canadian Conservation and Land Management (CCLM) knowledge network on topics related to land management, wetlands, and boreal caribou conservation in Canada. At each webinar, experts in their fields share knowledge and expertise of value to practitioners and managers. The webinars are recorded so that they can be viewed by those who were unable to attend the live event. Webinars held to date are:

• Advancing Conservation Outcomes Through Research, Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange - October 28, 2021
• Monitoring Environmental Impacts Through Remote Sensing - February 17, 2022

• The Application of Drone and Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle Technology in Conservation Work - February 28, 2023

• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Expert Panel on Canada's Carbon Sink Potential - May 24, 2023

• Intensive Forest Management Across Canada: Panel Discussion - November 8, 2023

• 2030 Nature Strategy: Panel Discussion - September 5, 2024

• Wildfire: Panel Discussion - February 27, 2025

• Ecosystem Mapping - May 6, 2025

The aim of the CAN-SAR Database is to provide open and accessible data reflecting information obtained from Canadian species at risk listing and recovery planning documents. Ongoing efforts include development of a living database that will facilitate contributions from other parties in an effort to increase efficiencies and decrease multiple (redundant) efforts with the broad over-arching goal of improving the conservation of species at risk.

NOTE: The current version of CAN-SAR includes data from documents available as of March 23, 2021 for species listed under Schedule 1 of SARA as Special Concern, Threatened, or  Endangered. For the authoritative source of current species at risk information please consult the SARA Public Registry.

Please see the article CAN-SAR: A Database of Canadian Species at Risk Information for more comprehensive information. 

The aim of the CAN-SAR Database is to provide open and accessible data reflecting information obtained from Canadian species at risk listing and recovery planning documents. Ongoing efforts include development of a living database that will facilitate contributions from other parties in an effort to increase efficiencies and decrease multiple (redundant) efforts with the broad over-arching goal of improving the conservation of species at risk.

NOTE: The current version of CAN-SAR includes data from documents available as of March 23, 2021 for species listed under Schedule 1 of SARA as Special Concern, Threatened, or  Endangered. For the authoritative source of current species at risk information please consult the SARA Public Registry.

Please see the article CAN-SAR: A Database of Canadian Species at Risk Information for more comprehensive information. 

The Boreal Caribou Ecological Model

Developed by the Habitat Restoration Working Group (HRWG) of the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium (NBCKC).

Habitat restoration is expected to play a key role in the recovery of boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Canada. Population declines are correlated with the proportion of ranges affected by anthropogenic and natural disturbances and reversing these impacts is expected to benefit caribou populations. However, there are various mechanisms that lead from habitat stressors to caribou declines, and the effects of these mechanisms differ among ranges.

Understanding the ecological pathways driving observed relationships can inform restoration planning by:

1. directing treatments towards the most critical, range-specific mechanisms;
2. identifying possible confounding factors that need to be addressed; and,
3. supporting adaptive management by generating testable hypotheses and clarifying monitoring needs.

Here we present a conceptual Boreal Caribou Ecological Model developed by the Habitat Restoration Working Group of the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium. The model is composed of 14 factors and associated relationships that generate pathways leading from a variety of landscape disturbance stressors. The model does not capture all possible factors in the system, but only those that are likely exerting significant effects. Nor does it address specific restoration treatment options but it can inform the design of treatments by identifying the functional effects that treatments should be addressing.

Caribou survival and recruitment are affected directly by predation, nutrition, disease and hunting. All of these link back to one or more habitat stressors that drive the national disturbance model (i.e., fire, insect pests, forest alteration/clearing and linear development). The individual relationship pathways interact with each other and can also be affected by external factors. The habitat stressors alter forage available to caribou and to other primary prey, the distribution and abundance of primary prey, associated predators and of humans, and ultimately cause population declines via lower caribou survival and reproductive success.

A key next step for the conceptual model is the development of appropriate response metrics to monitor response to restoration efforts. This would provide the means to compare the relative effects of different drivers among ranges and would highlight key knowledge gaps. The model would then provide a complete framework for adaptive management as habitat restoration is implemented.

links to the Tools developed by the Habitat Restoration Working Group:

• The Boreal Caribou Ecological Model (current page)
  • Infographic
  • Technical Report
  • Boreal Caribou Habitat Restoration Practices: Application and Outcomes
    • Infographic: Leverage Our Learnings: Applications And Outcomes Of Boreal Caribou Habitat Restoration

To learn more about caribou habitat restoration please visit our 'Caribou Habitat Restoration' page [under development].

The 2018 Action Plan for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population, in Canada: Federal actions for the Threatened boreal caribou called for the collaborative development of national population monitoring protocols. In 2018, the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium (NBCKC) formed its first working group, the Monitoring Working Group, to investigate caribou population monitoring priorities, methods, constraints, and best practices.

Knowledge sharing, generation, and mobilization from the Monitoring Working group 

Knowledge sharing:

The Monitoring Working Group first conducted interviews with experts and knowledge holders from across Canada, to (i) investigate the diversity of monitoring priorities and constraints across the boreal range, (ii) document the variability in methods used, and (iii) capture the perspectives and concerns expressed by individuals and organizations. The information arising from these interviews was then used to produce a report, Boreal Caribou Monitoring in Canada Part I: Perspectives from the NBCKC Monitoring Working Group. 

Knowledge generation and mobilization:

Having established and documented the perspectives surrounding boreal caribou monitoring, the working group then aimed to develop a set of guidance tools for the design and selection of suitable methods for monitoring boreal caribou populations under different scenarios. These tools are intended to inform both the development of emerging monitoring programs as well as the re-evaluation of current monitoring practices. This work is ongoing, however, the working group has released a number of tools to the ever-evolving Boreal Caribou Monitoring Toolkit  ("the toolkit").

The current objectives of the toolkit are:

1. To centralize existing resources relevant to the monitoring of boreal caribou, 
2. To provide valuable and accessible guidance for anyone engaged in, or planning to initiate, monitoring programs, and 
3. To identify where knowledge gaps still exist, such that toolkit users may see opportunities to contribute resources to the toolkit. It is important to highlight that the toolkit is intended to be an 'evergreen' resource; as new resources and information are brought forward, these may be added to the toolkit as standalone pieces or may be incorporated into existing tools. To be clear, toolkit users are encouraged to submit resources and documents they feel would enhance the overall value of the toolkit. 

Be sure to view the Boreal Caribou Monitoring toolkit by clicking the image. 

Be sure to read more about the Monitoring Working Group by clicking here 

To learn more about the NBCKC, please visit our interactive story map, available in English and French!

The National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium (NBCKC), which launched in 2018 under Canada’s federal action plan for boreal caribou, is a forum for knowledge sharing, knowledge generation, and knowledge mobilization. Members of the NBCKC represent federal, provincial and territorial governments, Wildlife Management Boards, Indigenous Peoples and communities, industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, and academic researchers. Several representatives who are part of the NBCKC are also members of a parallel body known as the Indigenous Knowledge Circle (IKC). The IKC advocates for the respectful inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge, supports the transition towards Indigenous-led management to support the recovery of caribou, and, provides opportunities for learning about what is working and not working in Indigenous contexts.

The NBCKC also includes several working groups and knowledge networks that were formed to assess what we already know, to ask what we still need to know, and to determine how to apply what we know to maximize caribou conservation and recovery goals. These groups currently include:

• The Monitoring Working Group
• The Habitat Restoration Working Group
• The Population Management Working Group
• The Caribou Health Knowledge Network

The NBCKC sets ambitious targets and deadlines in order to resolve remaining knowledge gaps by developing impactful guidance meant to inform caribou managers as they structure their respective programs. They have built a powerful interactive map and populated it with over 100 caribou projects, the majority of which involve Indigenous peoples. Despite boasting a large membership consisting of keen, skilled, and focused individuals, the NBCKC has been able to reach even higher levels of relevance and impact by joining our efforts with those of other initiatives. 

Follow this link to browse the repository of newsletters, guidance documents, best practices, tool kits and other resources that have been developed collaboratively by the NBCKC housed on our boreal caribou portal.

To learn more about the NBCKC, please visit our interactive story map, available in English and French!

The National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium (NBCKC), which launched in 2018 under Canada’s federal action plan for boreal caribou, is a forum for knowledge sharing, knowledge generation, and knowledge mobilization. Members of the NBCKC represent federal, provincial and territorial governments, Wildlife Management Boards, Indigenous Peoples and communities, industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, and academic researchers. Several representatives who are part of the NBCKC are also members of a parallel body known as the Indigenous Knowledge Circle (IKC). The IKC advocates for the respectful inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge, supports the transition towards Indigenous-led management to support the recovery of caribou, and, provides opportunities for learning about what is working and not working in Indigenous contexts.

The NBCKC also includes several working groups and knowledge networks that were formed to assess what we already know, to ask what we still need to know, and to determine how to apply what we know to maximize caribou conservation and recovery goals. These groups currently include:

• The Monitoring Working Group
• The Habitat Restoration Working Group
• The Population Management Working Group
• The Caribou Health Knowledge Network

The NBCKC sets ambitious targets and deadlines in order to resolve remaining knowledge gaps by developing impactful guidance meant to inform caribou managers as they structure their respective programs. They have built a powerful interactive map and populated it with over 100 caribou projects, the majority of which involve Indigenous peoples. Despite boasting a large membership consisting of keen, skilled, and focused individuals, the NBCKC has been able to reach even higher levels of relevance and impact by joining our efforts with those of other initiatives. 

Follow this link to browse the repository of newsletters, guidance documents, best practices, tool kits and other resources that have been developed collaboratively by the NBCKC housed on our boreal caribou portal.