Current Projects and Activities

Carnivores and Communities in the Waterton Biosphere Reserve

Photo by Parks Canada

The ‘Carnivores and Communities’ initiative focuses on various carnivore-livestock-human conflict mitigation efforts, in partnership with the Drywood-Yarrow Conservation Partnership [DYCP], Chief Mountain Landowner Information Network [CMLIN], Nature Conservancy of Canada [NCC], Chinook Area Land User’s Association [CALUA] and other local landowners. The Miistakis Institute for the Rockies, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, and Cardston County are also key partners.

Conflicts that arise from the interaction of wildlife and private land-owners, especially with respect to livestock predation, are topics of international concern. These issues are often particularly significant in the regions surrounding protected areas where permeable boundaries allow for the free movement of animals across public and private domains.

Livestock predation by carnivores on private lands (or public lands used for agricultural production) results in economic, social and cultural issues for ranchers and other residents in the region. By providing support to various initiatives, WBR encourages reduction of carnivore-livestock-human conflicts within the Waterton Biosphere Reserve.

Photo by Nora Manners/WBR

In 2009, the Miistakis Institute was commissioned by the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association to develop and implement a landowner survey to better understand landowner perceptions and attitudes toward carnivores such as wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, cougar and coyote in SW Alberta. The survey was completed early in 2010.  The results were presented to the community and land managers in June 2010 and the  final survey report was completed in April 2011. As compensation for livestock losses to large carnivores was an issue highlighted by landowners, a review of compensation programs was also completed as part of the study. 

WBRA has provided funding to local landowner groups including DYCP and CMLIN, as well as NCC, to support the operation of dead stock collection bins and undertake other activities to aid in the reduction of carnivore attractants.

In addition, WBR has provided support to the first phase of a landowner carnivore monitoring project being developed by the Miistakis Institute together with the DYCP. Carnivore conflicts with the ranching community in southwestern Alberta are common and landowners recognize the need to monitor interactions with carnivores to assist in the development of solutions. Landowners can now report carnivore observations and/or interactions on-line at Cowboys and Carnivores.

South West Alberta Cooperative Weed Management Area

by David Musto, Waterton Lakes National Park

Background
Non-native invasive plants (NNIP) are impacting natural ecosystems and economies worldwide. Time and again, it has been demonstrated that NNIPs are a transboundary problem that require cooperative solutions. The need for a cooperative approach has led to the establishment of Cooperative Weed Management Areas or CWMAs.

What is a CWMA?
A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) is a partnership of local agencies, individuals, and interest groups that work together in many ways to manage noxious weeds or invasive plants in a defined area. CWMAs are growing in popularity because they:

• Improve relationships at the grass roots level between state, local, and federal agencies, members of the public and private groups.
• Provide a way for groups with the common goal of controlling weeds to help each other get their jobs done in a more effective and coordinated manner.
• Allow local weed management issues to be brought to the state and federal levels.
• Increase local and statewide awareness of weed related issues across a broad cross section of the public.

A Cooperative Weed Management Area in South West Alberta
In 2009, a group of neighbours in the heart of Chinook Country met while their common adversaries slept under a white winter landscape. Their common weedy foes - knapweed, leafy spurge, blueweed and a host of others ... pose a threat to the lands under the care of the cooperative members … lands which all persons in southern Alberta enjoy and benefit from. These are our agricultural lands, rangelands, parks, and for many - ancestral lands.

Since then, members have continued to work towards formalizing the South West Alberta Cooperative Weed Management Area (SWACWMA). Signatories to the cooperative are the agricultural fieldmen from Cardston County and the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, environmental protection staff from Blood Tribe Land Management, Waterton Lakes National Park resource conservation staff, Nature Conservancy of Canada biologists, and the park ecologist of the south management area of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Support for the initiative has also come from the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association, Glacier National Park, Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition and local ranchers and other landowners.

It isn’t a new idea – this coming together to share knowledge and resources related to improving the health of the land - but this initiative is attracting some new faces as well as strengthening existing relationships and affirming a commitment to make a positive difference. All partners understand that the group will be adaptable and evolve as need and resources allow. Within this cooperative the neighbours will continue to share knowledge, resources and occasionally manpower, thereby being better prepared to deal with their weed control.

Numerous cooperative weed pulls have occurred over the past few years - there is strength in numbers. As all in the business know it is a daunting task and much can be learned through working together. The SWACWMA members encourage cooperative relationships and active participation by other organizations and individuals. Building and strengthening local partnerships with neighbours is a vital step to achieving our common goals.
 

Waterton Biosphere Reserve Coordination Project

In 2008, Environment Canada provided $5 million in funding to help support Canada’s biosphere reserves. The Waterton Biosphere Reserve will receive a portion of this funding through 2013 to manage the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Coordination Project. The association will use these funds to advance biodiversity conservation, encourage sustainable development, and improve the capacity of local and regional communities to make sound decisions for conservation and sustainable resource use in the WBR area. The coordination project will include the development of a cooperation plan which will guide the reserve’s future work and direction, and map out activities which partners in the region consider to be a priority.

The Waterton Biosphere Reserve supports a variety of local initiatives. Some recent examples include:

• Waterton Watershed Group: support for start up and a range health field day
• Cardston County: support for weed management
• Chief Mountain Cumulative Effects Study: support for report production

Banner image credit - Elk - Parks Canada • Bear - Parks Canada