A workshop on the role of the Peace River Break landscape (see Figure 1 below) in the Yellowstone-to-Yukon Region will be held immediately following the B.C. Protected Areas Research Forum at the University of Northern B.C.
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative has identified the Peace River Break as a priority for conservation action. This landscape provides a critical habitat connection for large mammals between the protected core areas of the Canadian Rocky Mountains National Parks (including Willmore and Kakwa provincial parks) and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area complex. It is the narrow waist of the entire Y2Y region and is threatened with fragmentation that will sever wildlife populations in the northern and southern halves of Y2Y. The Peace Break region is under intensive development pressure, ranging from forestry, oil and gas exploration and development, coalbed methane development and coal mining to new gas pipelines, wind energy infrastructure and the proposed Site C dam.
There is an urgent need to understand better the ecological functioning of this landscape, identify core habitats and movement corridors, and develop a collaborative strategy for pursuing conservation opportunities and addressing conservation threats.Within this context, the purposes of the workshop are to:
- engage scientists in the importance of this landscape within the overall Y2Y region
- increase our understanding of the current state of knowledge about the ecological functioning of the landscape from a focal/keystone species perspective (especially grizzly bears and woodland caribou)
- identify major gaps in knowledge
- generate interest in the Peace River Break within the Y2Y region as an area of research focus
- build relationships between scientists, activists, academics, First Nations and land managers active in the region
- discuss strategic issues facing the landscape
The following format is proposed:
- introduction to Y2Y and the Peace River Break priority area
- a series of presentations followed by discussions, arranged around the themes of:
1. species/connectivity research
2. land use patterns and impacts
3. Aboriginal interests and conservation opportunities
4. areas for future research/strategy and
5. Y2Y’s role and next steps
Those who have conducted or are conducting research in this landscape related to ecological function, key habitats and linkages, population dynamics, land use impacts or other topics related to conservation, will make presentations at the workshop.
The workshop will start on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 3rd, immediately following the B.C. Protected Areas Research Forum, and will conclude at noon on Thursday, December 4th.
To participate in the Y2Y Peace River Break workshop as a presenter or audience member, please contact Wendy Francis at wendy@y2y.net or 403.763.8633.
A session on Y2Y and the Peace River and Muskwa-Kechika landscapes will also be held as part of the concurrent sessions during the B.C. Protected Areas Research Form.
To learn more about the B.C. Protected Areas Research Forum, visit its web site at http://www.unbc.ca/bcparf/
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