Caribou Habitat Recovery Program

Overview

Since 2017, Alberta’s government has been restoring caribou habitat through the Caribou Habitat Recovery Program. The focus of the program is to re-establish trees on legacy (old) seismic lines within caribou ranges.

As of December 31, 2024, the Caribou Habitat Recovery Program has achieved approximately:

• 7,000 km of restoration planning
• 4,600 km of treatment
• 500 km of monitoring for seedling survival
• 2.8 million trees planted in Alberta caribou ranges

Legacy seismic lines are old access routes that were cut through the forest decades ago in search of underground oil, gas, and mineral resources. Approximately 209,000 km of legacy seismic lines remain in Alberta’s caribou ranges. These lines were made straight for surveying and up to 8 m wide for transporting equipment. Many are not revegetating naturally for a variety of reasons, including soil compaction, not enough light or nutrients, too much or too little water, or continued disturbance by people.

Restoration of these legacy seismic lines is now the responsibility of Alberta’s government. Restoration efforts are important in achieving a more intact landscape to support a range of species found in Alberta’s boreal forests, including caribou.

Modern seismic technology has improved so that new lines create less disturbance. However, the remains of the wider and straighter legacy seismic lines continue to affect wildlife such as caribou. Where trees have not regrown, wolves and other predators can track down caribou much more efficiently since they can easily travel along legacy seismic lines.

Restoration

The process to restore trees on legacy seismic lines includes detailed planning, treatment and monitoring. We engage local land users throughout the process.

Planning

• Sites are selected and surveyed.
• Treatment plans are developed.

Treatment

• Soil is prepared and seedlings are planted.
• Access to the lines is blocked.

Monitoring

• Monitor seedling survival in years 2 to 5.
• Monitor height and coverage in years 8 to 10.

This process is meant to set legacy seismic lines on a path to recovery. The treatment reduces disturbance and predation, and the lines return to caribou habitat over the next 40 years.

Indigenous involvement

We engage Indigenous peoples to enhance opportunities to exercise Treaty rights and for traditional land use practices. The Caribou Habitat Recovery Program creates opportunities for Indigenous communities and organizations to engage and participate in caribou habitat recovery planning, implementing, and monitoring activities.

Some legacy seismic lines serve as access routes to areas of traditional land uses, commercial trapping, recreation, and other activities. We recognize that members of Indigenous communities and organizations may wish to keep some of the lines untreated. Such values and perspectives are considered in the program’s goals and objectives. Indigenous Inclusion Plans are required for all program contracts.

Land users

Land users may notice active seismic line restoration underway within Alberta's caribou ranges. Treatment of seismic lines includes deactivation of lines, where access is restricted, especially near crossings with roads and other access points. This can include barriers of woody debris or adjacent trees bent onto the line.

While seismic line treatment may impact land users’ ability to access certain areas, restoring seismic lines will result in forest landscapes that maintain and enhance opportunities for backcountry recreation and other uses. Before any treatment, local land users will be notified and will have the opportunity to discuss options to maintain access to special places while restoring habitat for caribou.

Since 2017, treatment has taken place in the A la Peche, Cold Lake, and Little Smoky caribou ranges. As the Caribou Habitat Recovery Program continues its work, treatment will be completed in other caribou ranges.

• See the Alberta’s Caribou Ranges map

Resources

• Woodland Caribou Policy for Alberta – Alberta’s government established the Caribou Habitat Recovery Program in 2017 to support the direction and objectives in the Woodland Caribou Policy for Alberta.

Contact

Connect with us if you have questions about the Caribou Habitat Recovery Program: 
Email: [email protected]

Related

• Species at Risk
• Commitment to caribou recovery