Forest Co-op Fish & Wildlife Science Unit
Research featuring fish and wildlife has figured prominently throughout the Forest Co-op’s history. Early projects addressed (i) habitat needs, core area requirements, and population viability of the American marten, (ii) habitat supply and the effectiveness of management prescriptions for the northern goshawk, and (iii) shoreline forest harvesting and the maintenance of water quality. In 2005 the FWSU was established to provide a more focused forum for habitat related work within the Forest Co-op. Soon after, the unit held a forest birds workshop that brought experts and practitioners from across Canada together to assess the state of knowledge of forest birds and provide management recommendations. It also supported development of a framework for population viability analysis of woodland caribou.
In 2010 the FWSU provided logistic, financial, advisory, and moral support to the 4 outstanding FWSU projects: (i) Wetlands & Waterbirds, (ii) Caribou Habitat & Population, (iii) Bio-Indicators of Forest Stream Health, and (iv) Lichens & Caribou VMAP Project. This research is a testament to the diverse interests and abilities of the FWSU. But there is more ahead. At its meeting in September 2010, invited experts identified gaps and opportunities for future research in the areas of forest access roads, forest herbicides, species at risk, biomass, emulating natural stand structure, and watersheds and shorelines. In 2011, task teams will continue to work through this information, charting a course for new, relevant projects and new collaborations.