herds of caribou

Abstract: A fire suppression model was developed for forested winter range o f the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq (formerly Kaminuriak) herds o f barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) i n north-central Canada. T h e model is a balance between total protection, as voiced by some aboriginal people, and a let-burn policy for natural fires advocated by some ecologists. Elements i n the model were caribou ecology, l ichen recovery after fire, burn history, communi ty priorities for caribou hunting, and fire cycle lengths. The percent ratio o f current productive caribou habitat to the goal for that habitat determines whether fire should be suppressed i n a specific area. T h e goals for productive caribou habitat, defined as forests older than 50 years, were scaled by fire cycle length and communi ty priority ranking. Thus, the model is an example o f co-management: traditional knowledge combined wi th science i n a jo in t forum, the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Car ibou Management Board