Particular emphasis will be put on the moose species as a wildlife indicator. The habitat analysis will be conducted with forestry data from the last three forestry inventories, coupled with the 1985, 1991 and 1996 aerial moose surveys, sports and native harvesting and the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI). Forest and wildlife surveys will be completed in preferred use sectors in order to understand the forestry dynamics of stands used by the species. These analyses will facilitate the planning of the moose aerial survey, headed by the Société de la Faune et des Parcs (FAPAQ) (winter 2002-2003), in which the researcher will participate. A telemetric follow-up (GPS) of certain individuals, initiated concurrently with the aerial survey, will allow for the study of the annual use of different critical moose habitats. This study will help us understand the importance of the forest mosaïc to the species and the connectivity between different critical habitats. The adoption of a collaborative learning process will ensure participation and consideration of all stakeholders, in order to facilitate the dissemination and acceptance of the results. These will be applied, in the context of forest management, in order to ensure the protection of wildlife habitats and the sustainable development of resources.

Since this is an academic research project, work and result presentations will be done by a research team at the major wildlife and forestry colloquiums, at local, regional and national levels. Results will also be published in order to facilitate their implementation and to ensure certain technological transfers in the scientific community.

Project report is now available (pdf format).

For more information on this project, please contact Hugo Jacqmain, Graduate Student-Doctoral Candidate, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec.