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ROADS

ROADS. A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP A Yukon Conservation Society Presentation Sebastian Jones Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Analyst. Dempster Hwy photo by Pierre Racine. Sometimes We Love T hem. Sometimes We Hate Them. So how do we live with them?.

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ROADS

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  1. ROADS A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP A Yukon Conservation Society Presentation Sebastian Jones Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Analyst Dempster Hwy photo by Pierre Racine

  2. Sometimes We Love Them

  3. Sometimes We Hate Them

  4. So how do we live with them? • How do we keep the good and get rid of the bad? • What decisions need to be made when we think of making new roads? • How should we make these decisions?

  5. Road Ecology • Road ecology is the study of the ecological effects (both positive and negative) of roads and highways . ... Roads are a form of linear infrastructure intrusion that has some effects similar to infrastructure such as railroads, power lines, and canals.

  6. Roads are bigger than they look • Zone of influence • Avoidance • Dust/impaired vegetation nutrient • Hydrology • H. Cooke stuff (PIC for background) • Mortality (Hunting and collisions)

  7. Animals avoid roads!

  8. Roads are forever

  9. Brazeau River Nordegg Rocky MountainHouse Sask. River Sevenmile YaHa Tinda Road networks Grow.. And Grow… And spawn more & more development Well Sites (4,185) Roads (7,693 km) Cutblocks (~950 km2) Utility Corridors (2,784 km) Seismic Lines/Trails (~28,324 km)

  10. Resource roads are “supposed” to be reclaimed • “New roads for equipment and personnel access will be constructed on claims as required and will be reclaimed when no longer required for operations.”

  11. Road design affects us too!

  12. Some solutions

  13. What does not work well?

  14. Key points • Roads are barriers • Roads are bigger than they look • Need baseline data on animals that use the landscape • Need proper CE • Strategic approach to road development, addressing collisions, movements, connectivity. • Implement a road reclamation plan for the Yukon

  15. What can we do? • New roads need to be planned with all social and ecological implications in mind: • Hydrology • Wildlife key habitat • Wildlife routes • Habitat connectivity • Collisions with wildlife • Increased hunter access

  16. Hydrology • What’s wrong with this picture?

  17. Reduce Habitat Fragmentation • Map of WKAs near planned Goldcorp road

  18. Avoid Wildlife Corridors The Proponent shall not create impediments to wildlife movement within OK Creek valley and shall ensure that corridors remain open at all times for ease of wildlife movement. YESAB 2015-0205

  19. What can we do? • Reduce the number of roads • Is this road/linear disturbance really needed? • Are there alternatives?

  20. What can we do? • Use the latest knowledge to design roads for minimal impact

  21. What can we do? • De-commission Roads • Thresholds- linear and areal disturbance quanta • The North Yukon Plan includes limits to the kms of linear disturbance per km2 and of km2 disturbance per km2

  22. CONCLUSIONS • Do Land Use Planning First • Build Trust & Relationships • Ensure Roads Reflect Community Values • Put Roads In Places With Overlapping Values • Needs Many Forms of Knowledge • Requires Partnerships & Coordination • Needs Clear Prioritization of Values

  23. Thank you • Questions? Thoughts?

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