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Canada
is the steward of many types of wildlife and habitats. The country
possesses diverse temperate grassland and forested, and arctic landscapes.
As well, the nation has large oceanic territories and numerous freshwater
areas. Wildlife and the habitats that sustain them are highly valued
parts of our heritage, society and economy. Based on the varied
interests and requirements (e.g. acts, legislations, commitments,
regulations, policies, etc.) of governments, non-government organizations,
industries, and individuals, it is prudent that periodic evaluations
of the state of the country's habitat resources be undertaken.
These assessments
provide a means to share information on:
- the
health and integrity of the habitat resources;
- the
stressors which may be adversely impacting them; and
- new
opportunities to improve the ways they can best be managed and
conserved.
A
Simple Relationship
Habitats and wildlife are very interdependent
- without habitats, there can be no wildlife. Both natural and human
modified habitats form the life support systems for all wildlife
and without them, wildlife cannot survive - it's that simple.
When the quality and quantity of habitats are jeopardized, so too
are wildlife species.
Information
is Critical
The
use of, and access to, land and water resources in Canada and elsewhere
are far more extensive than before. The northern forests, and arctic
and oceanic regions are now much less inaccessible and remote. The
southern regions of Canada continue to be subject to expanding urbanization
and more intensive agricultural and forestry operations. The widening
and intensification of human activities places many pressures on
conserving productive and viable wildlife habitats. Better information
is needed to answer important questions, such as:
- How
much habitat is enough?
- What
types of habitats are required for species for migration?
- What
are the critical places and time periods involved to protect wildlife
species?
- How
can land and water use guidelines and processes be used to improve
the conservation of wildlife habitats while recognizing other
important socio-economic goals?
Having
forums to discuss these types of questions and perspectives are
vital starting points in information gathering. Access to up-to-date
and authoritative information on wildlife and habitat resources
and links to other important information on human activities, land/water
uses, biodiversity guidelines, planning mechanisms, etc. are essential
to address habitat concerns and issues.
The 2001
Wildlife Habitat Status Reports produced by Wildlife Habitat
Canada (WHC) and its partners are examples of some broadly based
and objective habitat assessments. The reports respond to many of
the practical questions that conservationists, resource managers,
farmers, fishers, land owners, etc. are asking about how to best
meet current day conservation goals. However, Canadians are commonly
drawing on information sources and data that were largely designed
to meet earlier resource development goals. The habitat assessments
and reviews do help to determine:
- what
are the critical types of habitat information that should be obtained?
- how
can governments/non-government organizations/industries, etc.
be better engaged in habitat data collection and monitoring?
- what
can individuals through to corporations do to improve habitat
decision-making, planning and management?
Similarly,
WHC has helped to produce other status reports: The
Status of Wetlands in Canada; The
Status of Northern Protected Areas; Peatland
and Wetland Protected Areas in Canada; and the Willougby
Habitat Status Report. In addition, WHC has documented information
on the status of Canadian peatlands on the Peat
Portal.
New
Approaches for Moving Forward
Partnerships
are essential to both share/consolidate information, as well as
develop new knowledge that will aid habitat conservation. The success
of a Wildlife Habitat Information System will depend on:
- a
more integrated approach to management that engages the cooperation
and talents of many government and non-government agencies; and
- a
well-structured process built around practical habitat approaches
that includes:
- conservation
and biodiversity concepts;
- evaluations
of landscapes and seascapes;
- objectives
and indicators;
- policies
and performance measures;
- inventories
and monitoring systems;
- conditions/indicators/stressors;
and
- reporting
system.
- a
process to address habitat priorities and gaps.
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