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Authors:
Ryan Danby,
PhD Candidate, Department of Biological Sciences, University of
Alberta
David S. Hik, Associate
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of
Alberta, D. Scott Slocombe, Professor, Department of Geography and
Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Andrew
Williams, Manager, Kluane Lake Research Station, Arctic Institute
of North America
Poster Title: Science and
The St. Elias: Research and Development in North America’s
Highest Mountains
Poster Abstract:
The past, present, and future of science in the St. Elias
Mountains of Yukon, Alaska, and British Columbia, as well as its
relationship with regional management and development is examined.
Science in the region has evolved from an early foundation of
exploration and mountaineering, through stages of resource
inventories and surveys, to more recent deductive scientific
research. Directly or indirectly, events such as construction of
the Alaska Highway, establishment of the Arctic Institute’s
Kluane Lake Research Station, and establishment of protected areas
have helped foster science in the region. In turn, science has
influenced regional development by providing the knowledge and
understanding utilized in resource use, planning, and decision
making. Over the past decade management of the region has become
less sectoral and more cooperative in nature, due partly to the
implementation of comanagement and exercises in regional planning.
Building science into this process through collaborative
endeavours such as long term ecological monitoring, adaptive
management, and information integration will contribute towards
truly ecosystem-based management of the region.
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