Woodland caribou habitat potential within the provincial forest of central and northern Saskatchewan has been identified by Saskatchewan, using a forest ecosite geographic information system layer which has been mapped for the SK1 area. Download: hereCaribou habitat potential has been categorized into low, moderate and high classes based on the biophysical attributes of the Saskatchewan ecosite classification (McLaughlan et al., 2010) and their utility and function for caribou. Forest ecosites represent information about a site's tree species, plant-abundance and soil and site characteristics. Forest ecosite habitat potential ranks were assigned by individually evaluating the ecosite's potential to provide forage, refuge and calving habitat. Habitat potential refers to the ability or capability of a habitat type to support a wildlife species for its various life requirements. Potential does not consider the current state of the habitat (e.g., recently burned or harvested), but its optimal state.Habitat Potential Classes: Low habitat potential = 0 Moderate habitat potential = 1 High habitat potential = 2 

Saskatchewan's woodland caribou range is divided into two conservation units, based on the ecozone boundaries of the boreal shield (SK1) and the boreal plain (SK2). The SK2 Caribou Conservation Unit is further divided into three administrative units: SK2 East, SK2 Central and SK2 West. The SK1 (Boreal Shield) Caribou Conservation Unit encompasses the rocky shield, sandy plains and many lakes of northern Saskatchewan. The SK2 (Boreal Plain) Caribou Conservation Unit encompasses the more productive mixed-wood forests and lakes of central Saskatchewan, including large areas of low-lying peatlands. While these two units represent important differences in ecological conditions (e.g., habitat types, fire regimes, landforms, etc.) and human land use and management (e.g., overall levels and types of land use, fire management, etc.), the boundary between SK1 and SK2 does not represent a population boundary, as caribou move freely between the two areas. The large size of the SK2 Caribou Conservation Unit (i.e., 109,717 km2) is not well suited for range assessment and range planning activities, given the large variation in ecological conditions, habitat types, land use, and natural disturbance regimes across the Boreal Plain of Saskatchewan. As a result, three smaller caribou administrative units within SK2 were developed: SK2 East, SK2 Central and SK2 West. SK2 West is further subdivided into two smaller management subunits. At present, the SK1 area has not been sub-divided into administrative units. Find out more about woodland caribou and what the province is doing to manage their habitat and protect their populations: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/environmental-protection-and-sustainability/wildlife-and-conservation/wildlife-species-at-risk/woodland-caribou-program

Predictive ecosite map of Saskatchewan's provincial forests and adjacent parks within the boreal plain, boreal shield and taiga shield ecozones: version 01. Download: Here The Predictive Ecosite Map of Saskatchewan is based on the classifications of McLaughlan et al. (2010). This version (v01) is an interim proof-of-concept product and is not considered highly accurate or finalized. Ecosite prediction accuracy is anticipated to between 40% and 65%, depending on geographic location. For the boreal plain ecozone, ecosites were derived using a random forest imputation with the yaImpute package in R and mapped by L. Gelhorn (2014-07-24). Pixel values presented here are prefixed with a 2. Non-forest / non-water pixels are often assigned a BP28 ecosite code (228). For the boreal shield and taiga shield ecozones, ecosites were derived using a random forest imputation with the yaImpute package in R and mapped by S. Oldford (2019-11-20). Pixel values presented here are prefixed with a 3 and a 4, respectively. In the case of the taiga shield ecozone, there were limited sample plot data. To increase the sample size for modelling, the majority of taiga shield ecosites data are combined and modeled with boreal sheild ecosites using the ecozonal synonyms of McLaughlan et al. (2010). Ecosites TS01 (401), TS04 (404) and TS17 (417) were modeled as such because no ecozonal synonyms exist. This map is clipped to the Saskatchewan provincial forest and adjacent park boundaries. Water bodies are masked according to the 2015 Landcover Map of Canada of White et al. (2017) and have a pixel value of zero (0). References: McLaughlan, M.S., Wright, R.A. and Jiricka, R.D. (2010). Field guide to the ecosites of Saskatchewan’s provincial forests. Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Forest Service. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. 343 pp. White, J.C., Wulder, M.A., Hermosilla, T., Coops, N.C. and Hobart, G.W. (2017). A nationwide annual characterization of 25 years of forest disturbance and recovery for Canada using Landsat time series. Remote Sensing of Environment. 192: 303-321.

The documented occurrence data package contains 3 datasets that, in combination, help to provide generalized information about woodland caribou locations and survey areas in Saskatchewan. This information may assist users in their efforts to avoid or mitigate impacts to woodland caribou when operating in woodland caribou range. Generalized locations of caribou use have been provided to better reflect their large home ranges. Absence of a hexagon in an area should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Please read the Data Guide for important information about this product. Download survey boundaries, telemetry occurrence, and sightings/sign. Download the full package, including data guide here. The Woodland Caribou Documented Occurrence public data product is composed of three shapefiles/feature classes: 1. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Sighting and Sign 2. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Telemetry 3. Woodland Caribou Survey Boundaries The two occurrence datasets contain a grid of 18 sq km hexagons (tessellation). The inclusion of a hexagon in the dataset indicates that one or more animal sightings or sign, or telemetry points have been documented in that area. Importantly, lack of caribou occurrence (e.g. no hexagon) should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Rather, data may not have been collected in these areas or incidental or other observations have not been received.   The survey boundaries dataset displays the boundaries of woodland caribou surveys that were completed by or in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment from 2005 to 2024. Boundaries are from multiple sources, and include various types of surveys (fecal pellet collection or telemetry). These boundaries provide context when viewed alongside the woodland caribou occurrence datasets. We expect to see more occurrence locations in areas that have been surveyed. This information may provide context to areas with a seemingly higher number of occurrences.  For a full description of the data, please refer to the Data Guide document available for download on the Saskatchewan GeoHub.

The documented occurrence data package contains 3 datasets that, in combination, help to provide generalized information about woodland caribou locations and survey areas in Saskatchewan. This information may assist users in their efforts to avoid or mitigate impacts to woodland caribou when operating in woodland caribou range. Generalized locations of caribou use have been provided to better reflect their large home ranges. Absence of a hexagon in an area should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Please read the Data Guide for important information about this product. Download survey boundaries, telemetry occurrence, and sightings/sign. Download the full package, including data guide here. The Woodland Caribou Documented Occurrence public data product is composed of three shapefiles/feature classes: 1. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Sighting and Sign 2. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Telemetry 3. Woodland Caribou Survey Boundaries The two occurrence datasets contain a grid of 18 sq km hexagons (tessellation). The inclusion of a hexagon in the dataset indicates that one or more animal sightings or sign, or telemetry points have been documented in that area. Importantly, lack of caribou occurrence (e.g. no hexagon) should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Rather, data may not have been collected in these areas or incidental or other observations have not been received.   The survey boundaries dataset displays the boundaries of woodland caribou surveys that were completed by or in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment from 2005 to 2024. Boundaries are from multiple sources, and include various types of surveys (fecal pellet collection or telemetry). These boundaries provide context when viewed alongside the woodland caribou occurrence datasets. We expect to see more occurrence locations in areas that have been surveyed. This information may provide context to areas with a seemingly higher number of occurrences.  For a full description of the data, please refer to the Data Guide document available for download on the Saskatchewan GeoHub.

The documented occurrence data package contains 3 datasets that, in combination, help to provide generalized information about woodland caribou locations and survey areas in Saskatchewan. This information may assist users in their efforts to avoid or mitigate impacts to woodland caribou when operating in woodland caribou range. Generalized locations of caribou use have been provided to better reflect their large home ranges. Absence of a hexagon in an area should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Please read the Data Guide for important information about this product. Download survey boundaries, telemetry occurrence, and sightings/sign. Download the full package, including data guide here. The Woodland Caribou Documented Occurrence public data product is composed of three shapefiles/feature classes: 1. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Sighting and Sign 2. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Telemetry 3. Woodland Caribou Survey Boundaries The two occurrence datasets contain a grid of 18 sq km hexagons (tessellation). The inclusion of a hexagon in the dataset indicates that one or more animal sightings or sign, or telemetry points have been documented in that area. Importantly, lack of caribou occurrence (e.g. no hexagon) should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Rather, data may not have been collected in these areas or incidental or other observations have not been received.   The survey boundaries dataset displays the boundaries of woodland caribou surveys that were completed by or in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment from 2005 to 2024. Boundaries are from multiple sources, and include various types of surveys (fecal pellet collection or telemetry). These boundaries provide context when viewed alongside the woodland caribou occurrence datasets. We expect to see more occurrence locations in areas that have been surveyed. This information may provide context to areas with a seemingly higher number of occurrences.  For a full description of the data, please refer to the Data Guide document available for download on the Saskatchewan GeoHub.

The documented occurrence data package contains 3 datasets that, in combination, help to provide generalized information about woodland caribou locations and survey areas in Saskatchewan. This information may assist users in their efforts to avoid or mitigate impacts to woodland caribou when operating in woodland caribou range. Generalized locations of caribou use have been provided to better reflect their large home ranges. Absence of a hexagon in an area should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Please read the Data Guide for important information about this product. Download survey boundaries, telemetry occurrence, and sightings/sign. Download the full package, including data guide here. The Woodland Caribou Documented Occurrence public data product is composed of three shapefiles/feature classes: 1. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Sighting and Sign 2. Woodland Caribou Occurrence - Telemetry 3. Woodland Caribou Survey Boundaries The two occurrence datasets contain a grid of 18 sq km hexagons (tessellation). The inclusion of a hexagon in the dataset indicates that one or more animal sightings or sign, or telemetry points have been documented in that area. Importantly, lack of caribou occurrence (e.g. no hexagon) should not be interpreted as absence of woodland caribou. Rather, data may not have been collected in these areas or incidental or other observations have not been received.   The survey boundaries dataset displays the boundaries of woodland caribou surveys that were completed by or in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment from 2005 to 2024. Boundaries are from multiple sources, and include various types of surveys (fecal pellet collection or telemetry). These boundaries provide context when viewed alongside the woodland caribou occurrence datasets. We expect to see more occurrence locations in areas that have been surveyed. This information may provide context to areas with a seemingly higher number of occurrences.  For a full description of the data, please refer to the Data Guide document available for download on the Saskatchewan GeoHub.