Analysis of Conflict between Potential Resource Use and Wildlife
Conservation in The Muskuwa-Kechika Management Area
Nobuya (Nobi) Suzuki,
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute
University of Northern British Columbia
Katherine Parker,
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute
University of Northern British Columbia
Accomplishment 1: Significantly upgraded 4 resource potential Layers
Mineral Potential
Wind Power Potential
Forest Potential
Oil and Gas Potential
Accomplishment 2:
Developed GIS layers of Multiple Resource Potential and Resource Potential Diversity
6 Spatial Data Tools to assess levels of conflict between potential
natural resource development and geographical areas of your interest
Mineral Potential
Wind Power Potential
Forest Potential
Oil and Gas Potential
Multiple Resource Potential
Resource Potential Diversity
Application Possibilities
6 tools can be applied to assess potential conflict with resource use for any polygons
Guide Outfitter Polygons
Trap Line Polygons
How we created Resource Potential Layers
How we developed Mineral Potential Layer for the MKMA
BC Metallic Mineral Potential
BC Industrial Mineral Potential
BC Metallic Mineral
Potential
BC Industrial Mineral Potential
Higher Value of
the 2 layers
Combined Metallic-Industrial Mineral Potential
Cropped
MKMA
• Mineral Tenure Sites
• Mineral Occurrence Database points in
“Prospect” and Developed “Prospect”
• Occurrence of Coal Geology
(Gething Formation)
Final Mineral Potential
for the MKMA
How we developed Forest Potential Layer for the MKMA
Vegetation Resource Inventory Data
1) Tree Diameter
2) Basal Area (Total Cross Sectional Area of Trees/ha)
3) Stand Volume
4) Site Index (Site Productivity)
They are highly correlated
• Index of forest potential = statistically combined 4 variables into 1
index value
• Ranked all pixels (50m x 50m) from low to high forest potential
How we developed Wind Potential Layer for the MKMA
How we developed Wind Potential Layer for the MKMA
Obtained Wind Data
• Wind speed data from Canadian
Wind Energy Atlas
• Wind direction data from 16
wildfire weather stations
Identified Suitable Topography: Ridgelines, Gentle
Hills, and High Plateau
Power generation potential of ridgeline
1) Ridges
• Slope < 20%
• 100m wide
• Distance to the nearest power line
or wind power tenure site
2) Gentle Hills and High Plateau
• Slope < 20%
• Elevation above the nearest
body of water
• Distance to the nearest power
line or Wind power tenure site
3) Ridges, Gentle Hills and
Plateau Combined
50m pixel values were summed over the
500 ha planning units
Wind power potential values at the
planning unit level were scaled to either
0-100 or 0-50.
How we created Oil and Gas Potential Layer for the MKMA
Oil and Gas Geology
Geological Potential of Oil and Gas
Primary Scoring
Alternative Scoring
Resource site potential
Distance to the
nearest oil and gas
fields, pools, or
tenure sites
Pipeline Distance Class
Pipeline Distance Class
Elevation
Elevation-Pipeline Distance Combined
Geological Potential of Oil and Gas
Resource site potential
Elevation-Pipeline Distance Combined
Conventional Natural Gas potential
How we developed Multiple Resource Potential and Resource Potential Diversity Layers
What exactly are they?
Mineral Potential
Forest Potential
Wind Power Potential
Oil and Gas Potential
Multiple Resource
Potential
Mineral Potential
Forest Potential
Wind Power Potential
Oil and Gas Potential
Shannon Diversity Index
Resource Potential Diversity
Resource Potential Diversity
Simultaneously measures number of resource types and how high their
resource potential values are
Low value (Dark Blue) indicates
Very low number of resource type,
may be only 1 resource type
present and resource potential
value may be also low
High Value (Dark Orange) indicates
All 4 resource types may be present
in the planning unit and resource
potential value of each of the 4
resource may be also high.
Accomplishment 3:
We assessed levels of potential conflict between Resource Use
and Wildlife Habitat for the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.
How we assessed potential conflict between resource use and wildlife habitat
Conservation
Area Design
(CAD) Study
Highly Suitable Habitat of Species A
(Top 30 Percentile)
Multiple Resource Potential
Multiple Resource Potential
within Highly Suitable
habitat of Species A
Multiple Resource Potential within
Highly Suitable habitat of Species A
Eliminated Parks, Reserves, Protected Areas
Stone Sheep
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for
Comparison
Stone Sheep/Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Multiple Resource Potential
Growing Habitat
Winter Habitat
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
30
25
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
20
15
10
5
0
0-10
10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Mountain Goat
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
Mountain Goat/Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Multiple Resource Potential
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
Growing Habitat
Winter Habitat
30
Low
Medium
Resource Potential Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
25
20
15
10
5
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Caribou/Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Multiple Resource Potential
Growing Habitat
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
25
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
20
15
10
5
0
0-10
10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Highly Suitable
Growing Habitat
Caribou
Highly Suitable
Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
Caribou/Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Multiple Resource Potential
Winter Habitat
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
25
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
20
15
10
5
0
0-10
10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Caribou/ Highly Suitable Habitat in Potential Conflict with Resource Use
Growing Habitat
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
25
Winter Habitat
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
20
15
10
5
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Moose
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
25
20
Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Resource Use
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
High
Resource Potential
Growing Habitat
Winter Habitat
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
15
10
5
Moose
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
25
20
Low
Resource Potential
Medium
Resource Potential
15
10
Elk
5
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Elk
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Wolf
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
25
Highly Suitable Habitat in Conflict with Resource Use
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
20
Wolf
15
Growing
Habitat
10
5
Winter
Habitat
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
25
20
Grizzly Bear
15
Early
Growing
Habitat
10
5
0
0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100
Multiple Resource Potential
Late
Growing
Habitat
Grizzly Bear
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat
Multiple Resource Potential for Comparison
30
G = Growing Habitat
W = Winter Habitat
*EG = Early Growing Habitat
*LG = Late Growing Habitat
* is for Grizzly Bears
25
20
15
10
5
Mountain Goat (G)
Stone Sheep (G)
Mountain Goat (W)
Stone Sheep (W)
Grizzly Bear (EG)
Caribou (G)
Grizzly Bear (LG)
Wolf (G)
Caribou (W)
Elk (G)
Wolf (W)
Moose (G)
Moose (W)
0
Elk (W)
Percent of Highly Suitable Habitat
35
Area of High Resource Potential in Highly Suitable Habitat
Conflict Ranking of 7 Wildlife Species
Goat (G)
Sheep (W)
Sheep (G)
Caribou (G)
Goat (W)
Grizzly (EG)
Wolf (G)
Elk (G)
Grizzly (LG)
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
Wolf (W)
Goat (G)
Elk (W)
Sheep (W)
Wolf (G)
Caribou (W)
Goat (W)
Sheep (G)
Caribou (G)
Moose (W)
Elk (G)
Grizzly (LG)
Grizzly (EG)
Moose (G)
Area (ha)
400000
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
Wolf (W)
Elk (W)
Caribou (W)
Moose (G)
Moose (W)
Area (ha)
Area of High Resource Potential in Highly Suitable Wildlife Habitat
High Mineral Potential
High Forest Potential
Goat (G)
Sheep (G)
Grizzly (EG)
Goat (W)
Caribou (G)
Sheep (W)
Grizzly (LG)
Wolf (G)
Moose (G)
Goat (W)
Sheep (W)
Goat (G)
Sheep (G)
Caribou (G)
Grizzly (EG)
Elk (G)
Grizzly (LG)
Wolf (W)
Wolf (G)
Moose (G)
Elk (W)
Moose (W)
Caribou (W)
Area (ha)
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Wolf (W)
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
Elk (G)
Caribou (W)
Moose (W)
Elk (W)
Area (ha)
Area of High Resource Potential in Highly Suitable Wildlife Habitat
High Wind Power Potential
High Oil and Gas Potential
Caribou
Higher levels of conflict in winter habitat than in growing habitat
Moose and Elk
Highest levels of potential conflict in both growing and winter habitat
Wolves
Moderate levels of potential conflict in both growing and winter habitat.
Grizzly
Levels of potential conflict are generally low but appear to increase in late
growing habitat.
Stone Sheep and Mountain Goat
Lowest levels of potential conflict in both growing and winter habitat
All Species
Higher levels of potential conflict to some extent in winter habitat (or late
growing habitat) than in growing habitat (or early growing habitat).
Caveats
• Conflict in our assessment does not address whether it is an
adverse effect or not.
• Some species are more sensitive or less sensitive than others.
Task in Progress
Assessment of potential conflict between Resource Use and Wildlife Habitat for Special
Resource Management Zones in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.
Special Resource Management
Zones of the MKMA
• We assessed areas of high multiple resource potential in highly
suitable wildlife habitat for 22 Special Resource Management
Zones
500000
400000
BESA HALFWAY CHOWADE
Sandpile
Fishing
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 2
Prophet
Muskwa West
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 1
Toad River Corridor
8Mile / Sulpher
Churchill
Fox
Rabbit
Alaska Hwy Corridor
Obo River
Kechika River Corridor
Moodie
Muskwa River Corridor
Rainbow
Aeroplane
Turnagain Dall River Corridor
Terminal
Area (ha)
Suitable Habitat vs. Multiple Resource Potential across Special Resource Management Zone
Growing Habitat for All Species Combined
600000
Highly Suitable Growing Habitat (All Species)
High Multiple Resource Potential
300000
200000
100000
0
600000
500000
400000
BESA HALFWAY CHOWADE
Sandpile
Fishing
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 2
Prophet
Muskwa West
8Mile / Sulpher
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 1
Toad River Corridor
Alaska Hwy Corridor
Rabbit
Obo River
Churchill
Muskwa River Corridor
Fox
Terminal
Kechika River Corridor
Moodie
Rainbow
Aeroplane
Turnagain Dall River Corridor
Area (ha)
Suitable Habitat vs. Multiple Resource Potential across Special Resource Management Zone
Winter Habitat for All Species Combined
Highly Suitable Winter Habitat (All Species)
High Multiple Resource Potential
300000
200000
100000
0
Area of High Resource Potential in Highly Suitable Wildlife Habitat
Across Special Resource Management Areas
Growing Season Habitat
Area of High Resource Potential in Highly Suitable Wildlife Habitat
Across Special Resource Management Areas
Winter Habitat
0
Rainbow
Sandpile
BESA HALFWAY…
Turnagain Dall River…
Moodie
Rabbit
Kechika River Corridor
Aeroplane
Muskwa River Corridor
Toad River Corridor
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 1
Stone Mountain
8Mile / Sulpher
Churchill
Terminal
Prophet
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 2
Muskwa West
Fishing
150000
Alaska Hwy Corridor
Area (ha)
200000
Fox
250000
Obo River
Area (ha)
Areas of High Resource Potential Across 22 Special Resource Management Zones
High Forest Potential
100000
50000
0
300000
High Mineral Potential
200000
150000
100000
50000
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Obo River
Fox
Alaska Hwy Corridor
Fishing
Muskwa West
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 2
Prophet
Terminal
Churchill
8Mile / Sulpher
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-NORTH RMZ 1
Toad River Corridor
Muskwa River Corridor
Aeroplane
Kechika River Corridor
Rabbit
Moodie
Turnagain Dall River…
BESA HALFWAY CHOWADE
Sandpile
Rainbow
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
350000
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
High Wind Potential
High Oil and Gas Potential
Area (ha)
0
Obo River
Fox
Alaska Hwy…
Fishing
Muskwa West
GRAHAM-…
Prophet
Terminal
Churchill
8Mile / Sulpher
Stone…
GRAHAM-…
Toad River…
Muskwa…
Aeroplane
Kechika River…
Rabbit
Moodie
Turnagain…
BESA…
Sandpile
Rainbow
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
Obo River
Fox
Alaska Hwy…
Fishing
Muskwa West
GRAHAM-…
Prophet
Terminal
Churchill
8Mile / Sulpher
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-…
Toad River…
Muskwa River…
Aeroplane
Kechika River…
Rabbit
Moodie
Turnagain Dall…
BESA HALFWAY…
Sandpile
Rainbow
Area (ha)
Area of High Multiple Resource Potential in Caribou and
Moose Habitat for Special Resource Management Areas
Caribou
(Winter Habitat)
150000
100000
Highly Suitable
Winter Habitat
High Multiple
Resource Potential
250000
200000
Moose
(Winter Habitat)
50000
Highly Suitable
Winter Habitat
High Multiple
Resource Potential
Area(ha)
300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
Obo River
Fox
Alaska Hwy Corridor
Fishing
Muskwa West
GRAHAM-NORTH…
Prophet
Terminal
Churchill
8Mile / Sulpher
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-NORTH…
Toad River Corridor
Muskwa River…
Aeroplane
Kechika River Corridor
Rabbit
Moodie
Turnagain Dall River…
BESA HALFWAY…
Sandpile
Rainbow
0
Obo River
Fox
Alaska Hwy…
Fishing
Muskwa West
GRAHAM-…
Prophet
Terminal
Churchill
8Mile / Sulpher
Stone Mountain
GRAHAM-…
Toad River…
Muskwa River…
Aeroplane
Kechika River…
Rabbit
Moodie
Turnagain Dall…
BESA HALFWAY…
Sandpile
Rainbow
Area (ha)
Area of High Multiple Resource Potential in Wolf and Grizzly Bear Habitat
300000
250000
200000
Wolf
(Winter Habitat)
150000
100000
50000
Highly Suitable
Winter Habitat
High Multiple
Resource Potential
Grizzly Bear
(Later Growing
Season Habitat)
Highly Suitable
Late Season
Growing Habitat
High Multiple
Resource Potential
High Potential Conflict Areas of Selected Species
Caribou/Winter
Wolf/Winter
Moose/Winter
Grizzly Bear/Late
Growing Season