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Northern Mountain Population (NMP) Woodland Caribou are currently designated as “Special Concern” under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). In Tahltan Nation, there are seven herds, all important to the Nation for traditional uses, food security, and sustenance needs.  

Tahltan have traditionally managed these herds through our knowledge and understanding of the historic seasonal ranges, movement periods and corridors, and changes in range use and numbers over time. However, Tahltan citizens are expressing concern on the apparent changes to seasonal range, movements, and declining numbers of caribou herds for over ten years which are not consistent with long term traditional and community knowledge. 

Project Overview

The Level Mountain-Kawdy Plateau, Tseneglode, Spatsizi, and Edziza Woodland Caribou herds have limited current information on population numbers, habitat use, and predation over the last ten to twenty years. Three of the four herds are found in Tahltan spiritually and culturally important areas, one of the populations is declining, and two of the herds are in relatively heavily impacted areas from mineral development and licenced hunting/access.  Tahltan Knowledge, community knowledge, and Tahltan Guide Outfitter knowledge are the robust data sources being used to support management, land use, and conservation planning while the scientific knowledge is being collected by Tahltan. 

Project Background

Limited knowledge on wolf numbers, pack sizes and movements, and the predation rate on culturally important ungulates such as Woodland Caribou and moose are affecting Tahltan management abilities to ensure sustenance needs are met, food security, and to ensure land use management strategies and conservation areas are addressing habitat needs, critical habitats, movement corridors, and seasonal ranges in light of climate changes and human activities.  

Through TSI, the process of Tahltan Land Use Planning and furthering the establishment of Tahltan Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) is developing management direction, zoning, and conservation goals for the herds. Information is needed to create an updated understanding of the Woodland Caribou herds and their relationship with wolves to support the advancement of Tahltan IPCAs through a Tahltan land use planning process. 

Get Involved

As the lead for Tahltan stewardship planning, I commit to you that we will do our best to ensure that you have the opportunity to learn about Tahltan Territory and that your voices have every opportunity to be heard. If you have any suggestions or want to be part of this work, then please let me know at garry.merkel@tahltan.org.

Public Project FAQ

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