Project Details

Development of simulation tools is a critical aspect of 3 important components of sustainable resource management: adaptive management; cumulative effects assessment; and integrated resource management. This project relates to development of modelling tools integral to an adaptive management program that will evaluate effects of linear disturbances and access in northeastern Alberta.

Further development of existing modelling platforms is an efficient alternative to development of new platforms, and 4 existing models will be utilized by this research: ALCES; FEENIX; TARDIS; and TELSA. They differ in their representation of space, and in the ecological processes each includes. They will be combined in a hierarchical framework, and used to evaluate future effects of linear feature and human access management strategies. Where modelling needs are not satisfied, development will add capabilities to appropriate models. This will include the integration of findings from research being conducted by the Adaptive Management Experiment (AME) Team, to determine the response of ecological components and processes to linear features and access. Following model validation, the framework will be used to identify best practices for linear feature and access management in northeastern Alberta. Workshops will present the framework, providing resource managers and stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate and compare outcomes of alternative management strategies.