South LiDea Restoration Area Project

In Canada, widespread decline of woodland caribou is occurring due to increased predation by wolves. This predation increase is linked to habitat disturbance such as seismic lines, so forest restoration is a foundational management response to this caribou decline. This project focuses on the Cold Lake caribou herd, which has been in steep decline for at least 10 years. It will restore 200+km of legacy seismic lines in South LiDea, with the objectives of increasing conifer abundance and growth rate, reducing traffic-ability and sightlines and restoring species distribution, using adaptive, operationally viable methods and a controlled design, to address caribou decline and provide other habitat and carbon storage benefits. In addition, mechanical site preparation will be tested using alternative equipment.

Results: The winter program (Jan-April 2016) mechanically treated 145.7 km of linear disturbance. The non-frozen program (Sept-Nov 2016) achieved another 54.36 km using amphibious equipment. Total line treated was 200.06 km. 130,000 seedlings were planted over 92.15km in August 2016 at a target density of 1,800 stems/hectare; the balance of the area remaining to be planted will be planted in spring 2017. Learnings: (1) treatment prescription is improved using aerial photos and field recon in addition to LiDAR; (2) passive regeneration of linear features cannot be predicted using only biophysical characteristics; greatest controls on passive regeneration are conditions at time of treatment, and in South LiDea, status could only be confirmed with a recon fly over; (3) frost must be just sufficient to support equipment but not so great as to impede mounding cycle time; (4) amphibious equipment can significantly extend time window for restoration (August 15th until mid-winter), but constraints such as very slow transit speed, daily transport for operators and fuel are a significant impediment.