A Conservation Gap Analysis for Southeast Yukon

Earlier this year we conducted a science-based assessment of conservation gaps in Southeast Yukon to inform regional land-use planning. Land-use decisions are being made now that will affect the natural landscape and the patterns of human land use in the near future and potentially for many generations to come. Understanding and identifying regional conservation requirements and the implications of land-use decisions is a vital missing link in regional land-use planning.

The focus of our analysis was on the Yukon portion of the Kaska Traditional Territory, although transboundary regions were factored into the analysis. We looked at how well the region’s natural diversity is represented in the current protected area network, and how potential future protected areas could improve this representation. We identified where the gaps in representation are and which potential protected areas could help “fill” those gaps.

We used the Assessment of Representation tool developed by WWF-Canada to perform the conservation gap analysis. This is an automated Geographic Information System (GIS) routine that uses entities called enduring features as surrogates for biological diversity. Enduring features are landscape units with relatively uniform surficial material (soils) and topography. The program takes a systematic approach to assess the representation of enduring features through an explicit, rules-based technique that assigns representation scores based on the application of weighted representation criteria. It also uses focal species and natural disturbance patterns to determine minimum protected area requirements. We decided to use this tool because it produces meaningful, defensible, replicable and readily interpreted map-based results.

Three scenarios were assessed:

1. The first evaluated representation using the only existing protected area in southeast Yukon – the tiny (16 km2) Coal River Springs Ecological Reserve.
2. The second scenario included the proposed Kaska Cultural and Wildlands Zones from the draft Regional Forest Management Plan (KFRSC 2006) along with the Coal River Springs Ecological Reserve.
3. The third scenario included all of the above, as well as CPAWS-Yukon areas of interest for conservation that were selected specifically to fill in the conservation gaps.

Gap Analysis of Southeast Yukon and Neighbouring Areas
Click here to download detailed maps of the three scenarios
(Acrobat [PDF] file, ~1.1 Mb)

The results of the gap analyses indicate the following (see also the map above):

• Not surprisingly, the existing protected area in the study area (Coal River Springs) does not adequately represent the majority of the enduring features, leaving extensive conservation gaps.

• The Kaska Cultural and Wildlands Zones identified in the draft Regional Forest Management Plan (KFSRC 2006), when considered as protected areas in the analysis, provide adequate representation of most of the enduring features at the core of the study focus area. However, conservation gaps remain along the periphery of the focus area, within some proposed Forest Management Zones, and in several large areas in the southeast corner including the Coal River, and the Beaver River and LaBiche River areas.

• The inclusion of 6 Conservation Areas of Interest identified by CPAWS-Yukon, which specifically address residual gaps after inclusion of Kaska Cultural and Wildlands Zones, results in adequate representation of all but 9 of the enduring features within Kaska Traditional Territory in the Yukon. The remaining enduring features that are not adequately represented fall within Withdrawal and Management Zones designated in the draft RFMP where there is the opportunity for future sub-regional planning to ensure protection of conservation values.

It is clear that conservation planning must become a priority in the southeast Yukon, and that a regional conservation strategy needs to be developed and implemented. The Kaska Cultural and Wildlands Zones as proposed by the Kaska Forest Resource Stewardship Council are an excellent beginning and a strong step forward in the direction of successful conservation planning. However, this report demonstrates that further action is required to ensure adequate protection of all of the region’s natural values and character.

Recommendations based on the results of the conservation gap analysis:

• Implement the proposed Kaska Cultural and Wildlands Zones as protected areas, and conduct further regional conservation planning to establish a conservation strategy that includes a protected areas network that viably represents the full range of regional diversity and maintains regional ecological integrity.

• Designate a network of protected areas based on the conservation Areas of Interest identified in this report or other areas determined through a planning process including public and institutional consultation that similarly meet conservation objectives.

• Initiate and complete comprehensive land-use planning in the region to ensure successful implementation of the conservation strategy.