Focal Species

Moose

To help sustain the NWT’s biodiversity and cultural landscapes, the NWT Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) aims to protect special natural and cultural areas, and core representative areas within each of the territory’s 42 ecoregions. In support of these goals, the PAS Science Team combines analysis of different information types, including focal species analysis, to represent the biodiversity of a region.

Focal Species Analyses

The coarse filter approach that looks at protecting representative samples of landscape features is combined with special features to include a fine filter. Focal species analyses identify high-value habitats that are not necessarily linked to areas identified by the coarse and fine filter approach, and help answer questions about habitat quality, species area requirements, and protected area network design. Depending on conservation goals and priorities, different types of focal species are selected to inform protected areas planning. A species may be selected for its importance in maintaining ecosystem functions, its sensitivity to ecological change, traditional and cultural importance, links with the habitat needs of other species, and/or public appeal.

Focal species that are important to NWT’s cultural heritage are often already being considered in the protected areas proposals put forward by communities. For example, boreal caribou habitat and a NWT Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat Site were both important reasons behind the identification of the Edéhzhíe Candidate Protected Area in the Dehcho Region. Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat Sites have also been considered in identifying sites, such as Ts’ude niline Tu’eyeta Candidate Protected Area in the Sahtu region. Important Wildlife Areas information is being gathered and mapped, but the information is not yet published.

How is focal species analysis used in the PAS?

Comprehensive habitat maps for species other than migratory birds currently do not exist. The PAS Biologist with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources is mapping known Important Wildlife Areas for species covered under the NWT Wildlife Act. While these are key habitats, all of the NWT provides habitat for wildlife.

Some species modelling work, like the waterfowl habitat, has been started by PAS partners but is not part of current analyses.

Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat

Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) is responsible for the protection and management of terrestrial habitat important to migratory birds in Canada. CWS has collated scientific research and monitoring of migratory birds and identified known key migratory bird terrestrial habitat sites in the NWT and Nunavut. Key sites are defined as areas that support at least 1% of the Canada-wide population of a migratory bird species. A few additional sites thought to contain unique or rare species diversity were also included. See the CWS Occasional Paper No. 114: Key migratory bird terrestrial habitat sites in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (link) for more information.

Important Wildlife Areas

The PAS Biologist with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Department of Environment and Natural Resources is mapping known Important Wildlife Areas based on traditional and scientific knowledge. Only wildlife species for which the GNWT has management responsibility were considered for Important Wildlife Areas. A species also had to meet at least one of the following conditions in order to be considered:

For this report, Important Wildlife Areas are key wildlife habitat areas that meet at least one of the following six criteria: 1. Areas that many animals use traditionally, around the same time each year (e.g. barren-ground caribou calving grounds). 2. Places where animals consistently aggregate in relatively large numbers (e.g. areas with a consistently high density of peregrine falcon nests). 3. Areas that animals repeatedly use under adverse conditions as refugia (e.g. a place where muskoxen are able to persist during extreme climatic conditions). 4. Areas where there are source populations (places where animals give birth). 5. If a species has very low numbers in NWT, or very limited suitable habitat, year-round range may be identified as important (e.g. western toad). 6. Unique areas that are used by many different species (e.g. mineral licks, hot springs, some wetlands).

Communities, co-management boards, government scientists, and others have contributed their knowledge to this mapping process. These maps and the accompanying report are intended to be updated every 10 years. The western part of the NWT, including the Dehcho, Sahtu, Gwich’in and Inuvialuit regions, will be completed in 2009. Work on the eastern part of the NWT will begin in the fall of 2009 and is hoped to be completed in 2010.

The purpose of the Important Wildlife Areas maps and report is to assist with making sound management decisions and will be useful in the development and review of protected area proposals, land use plans, community conservation plans, environmental impact assessment, wildlife management plans, and regulatory options.

Species that are being mapped include: