Wildlife Habitat Effectiveness and Connectivity Research Program

Wildlife habitat disturbance extends beyond the immediate physical footprint of development projects and can contribute to population declines. Of particular concern is the disruption of key wildlife corridors, which may further exacerbate these declines. This project aimed to determine the overall efficacy of creating development buffers (referred to as setbacks) for corridors as a wildlife conservation tool and make recommendations on appropriate widths surrounding the Athabasca River and its main tributaries. This project also highlights findings for moose habitat use research.

This project found no indication that the arrangement of mines has led to the isolation of wildlife populations. A result likely due to the presence of continuous accessible habitat to the east and west of the mines, allowing populations to remain connected. This project recommends that setback distances from the Athabasca River are unnecessary to conserve large mammals.