Motorized Recreation (Winter): Alpine/Tundra and Forest
|
|
 |
|
Introduction
- The following results, desired behaviours, indicators, and limits apply in addition to
any relevant policies or regulations; for example, area-based closures and existing statutes.
- Concerns are ranked according to the potential risk to wildlife and their habitats,
where “potential” is
defined as the probability that the activity will result
in either the alteration or destruction of habitat, or the
temporary or permanent abandonment of habitat, in the absence
of guidelines or statutes.
- Motorized vehicles intended or used
for travel on snow include (but are not limited to) snowmobiles,
snowcats, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
- Guidelines are summarized by:
- Results - What the guidelines are attempting
to achieve.
- Desired Behaviours - Actions by users
that are most likely to achieve the specified results.
- Indicators - What should be measured
to determine if the specified results are being achieved.
- Limits - Acceptable bounds related to
the measured indicator.
- Results and Desired Behaviours are identified for low-risk
issues.
- Results, Desired Behaviours, Indicators, and Limits are
identified for high-risk issues.
- NOTE: These guidelines have been produced as a means of ensuring that environmental values and
tourism recreational activities can co-exist on the landscape. Tourism operators may find these
guidelines useful and may choose to adopt them. However, if a licensee chooses to use a different
strategy, and it is accepted, the licensee must undertake an effectiveness monitoring program. The
Tenure Management Plan must reflect a commitment to the monitoring program, and opportunities to
partner with government may be explored.
- Safety remains the first priority under all circumstances.
1. Degradation of Soil, Air and Water Quality
Concern: Air pollution
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
|
- Use low-emission engines (e.g., 4-stroke or efficient 2-stroke).
- Keep engines well tuned.
- Avoid idling.
|
Concern: Water pollution
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
|
- Pack out all garbage.
- Use existing facilities for human waste, pack it out, or bury it in holes 10 to 15 cm deep located
at least 100 m from water sources (use group latrines at least 30 cm deep for parties of more than 4
persons).
|
Concern: Fuel spills
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
|
|
2. Integrity of Vegetation Communities
Concern: Soil Compaction
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
- Protect vegetative cover and root systems.
|
- Use existing roads and trails in low snow conditions.
|
Concern: Damage to sensitive sites
(
Are these in my operating area?)
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
Indicators |
Limits |
- Protect habitats of endangered wildlife species and ecosystems.
- Protect sensitive ecosystems (grasslands, alpine/tundra, and moist-soil ecosystems such as
riparian areas and wetlands).
- Protect nesting/calving sites.
|
-
Learn to identify endangered species and ecosystems within the operating area.
- Operate in a manner that is consistent with government’s approved approach to recovery planning for species at risk.
- Use existing roads and wide trails.
- Obey all signs and area closures.
- Do not break or trample vegetation in
riparian areas.
- Avoid known nesting/calving sites (seasonal closures might be necessary).
- Do not damage wildlife trees.
|
- Damage to sensitive sites.
- Damage to vegetated alpine/tundra and grasslands beyond existing trail network.
|
- No vegetation damage in sensitive sites or vegetated alpine/tundra and grasslands beyond existing
trails caused by motorized vehicles.
|
3. Direct Disturbance of Wildlife
Concerns: Physiological and behavioural disruption, displacement
from preferred habitats; direct mortality, habituation/sensitization
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
Indicators |
Limits |
- Minimize physiological and behavioural disruption.
- Minimize changes in habitat use.
|
- Record wildlife encounters, actions taken, and responses of animals.
- Remain on established trails or in areas of high
visibility where no wildlife are present.
- Obey all signs and area closures.
- Do not harass wildlife.
- Do not feed wildlife.
- Do not handle wildlife.
- Do not allow dogs to be at large and harass wildlife.
- Pack out all garbage.
- Turn off engine, remain on machine, and yield to wildlife on trails and roads.
- Focus activities in areas where wildlife are least likely to be disturbed (seasonal
closures might be necessary).
- Stay at distances sufficient to prevent changes to the behaviour of animals
(at least 500 m in open areas is the
default for large mammals).
|
- Proportion of encounters resulting in an alarm response.
- Population abundance and distribution trends of wildlife species.
|
- No increase in rate of alarm responses
over time caused by motorized activities.
- No harassment
caused by motorized activities.
- No abandonment of habitats caused by motorized activities.
|
4. Integrity of Fisheries Resources
Concern: Damage to fish populations and habitat
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
- Protect fish populations and habitat.
|
|
5. Special Management
Concern:
Grizzly Bear and
Wolverine dens
(
Are these in my operating area?)
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
|
|
Concern:
Ungulate winter range (
Are these in my operating area?)
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
Indicators |
Limits |
|
- Remain on established roads and trails.
- In deep snow areas, where snow-plowing creates linear “traps” for
Moose, provide lateral escape routes at relatively
frequent intervals.
- Obey all signs and area closures.
- Do not harass wildlife.
- Do not feed wildlife.
- Do not allow dogs to be at large and harass wildlife.
- Minimize activity in and near identified ungulate winter ranges
(seasonal closures might be necessary).
- Stay at distances sufficient to prevent changes to the behaviour of animals
(at least 500 m in open areas is the default).
|
|
|
Concern: Mountain Caribou
(Are these in my operating area?)
Results |
Desired Behaviours |
Indicators |
Limits |
|
- Record wildlife encounters, actions taken, and responses of animals.
- Remain on established roads and trails.
- Obey all signs and area closures.
- Do not harass wildlife.
- Do not feed wildlife.
- Do not allow dogs to be at large and harass wildlife.
- Minimize activity in and near identified high-use areas
(seasonal closures might be necessary).
- Stay at distances sufficient to prevent changes to the behaviour of animals
(at least 500 m in open areas is the
default for large mammals).
- Follow recommendations of Recovery Implementation Groups for
Mountain Caribou.
|
- Encounter frequency.
- Proportion of encounters resulting in an alarm response.
- Population abundance and distribution trends of subpopulations.
|
- No increase in rate of alarm responses
over time caused by motorized activities.
- No harassment caused by motorized activities.
- No abandonment of current range caused by motorized activities.
|
|
|