Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines - Alberta

1 Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines April 2013. ESRD/ Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines April 2013. Preface Background Effectively managing and conserving wild Species and their habitats requires an understanding of Species ' distribution, population levels and habitat requirements, along with knowledge of the factors that may threaten their long-term survival. With protective measures for wild Species established under Alberta 's Wildlife Act and the federal Species at Risk Act, the provincial government is faced with a growing need to conserve and protect key habitat features for many wild Species .

2 Of particular interest are Sensitive Species , which, for the purposes of these Guidelines , refers to the following: 1) those Species legally listed as Endangered or Threatened under the provincial Wildlife Act or federal Species at Risk Act (SARA); 2) those designated as a Species of Special Concern through the provincial detailed status assessment process or SARA; and 3). Species ranked as At Risk, May Be At Risk, or Sensitive in Alberta by the general status assessment process and have been identified as being Sensitive to human disturbance. These categories include Species that are or may be at risk of extirpation or extinction and those that may require special attention or protection to prevent them from becoming at risk.

3 The number of pre-development surveys required to keep pace with the increasing scope of development activities in Alberta led to the development of standardized Inventory Guidelines for Sensitive Species . The use of standardized Inventory methods offers the following benefits: Enables province-wide consistency and reliability in data collection;. Facilitates comparison between surveys or studies;. Minimizes biases related to sampling techniques;. Ensures project planning meets required government standards. Consistent use of standardized survey methods over time should provide data that more accurately reflect ecological patterns and landscape-level changes in distribution and population trends across the province.

4 These survey Guidelines were developed by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development-Wildlife Management (ESRD-Wildlife Management) staff and other Species experts in the province. Guidelines were developed in consultation with wildlife managers, additional Species experts, and biologists from industry, government, and academia. The Guidelines presented in this document will be modified as needed, based on field experience in the application of the Guidelines and as new research becomes available. Similarly, new Guidelines will be added. The long-term goal of this initiative is to expand the focus of this document to include a wider range of Species throughout the province, particularly more Species and landscapes from northern and central Alberta .

5 I ESRD/ Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines April 2013. Best Practices Each Species survey guideline is uniquely designed based on the habitat requirements and biology of each Species or Species group. There are a number of best practices that are universally applicable to the survey planning process, field techniques, and data submission. Below are the recommended best practices that should be used during each and every wildlife survey within the province of Alberta . Survey Planning 1. Surveys must be planned, and conducted by an experienced wildlife biologist or wildlife technician with experience in the survey methods and Species targeted by the survey or Inventory .

6 2. All Guidelines relevant to the project area should be well and understood and the surveys planned in advance to ensure appropriate scheduling of surveys for each Species . Important information including survey timing, weather restrictions, equipment required, and permit requirements are detailed in section titled Survey Standards in each individual guideline. This is important for dispositions approved under the Enhanced Approval Process (EAP), as conducting surveys under the appropriate conditions is a requirement of the EAP approval (Government of Alberta 2012). 3. A search of government databases should be completed for the proposed development area to determine if a Sensitive Species is likely to occur within that area.

7 A review of the Fish and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) database for occurrences of wildlife Species is beneficial. Biological staff at the local ESRD- Wildlife Management office should be contacted well before surveys, and upon request, can provide a list occurrences of Sensitive Species previously recorded within the area of interest. Additionally, a review of the Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS) should be undertaken for occurrences of Threatened and Endangered plant Species . 4. The use of available habitat tools ( , Habitat Suitability Index) to evaluate habitat values is another useful tool to evaluate potential for the occurrence of various Species at risk.

8 This information will help focus the survey and reduce the possibility of missing important Species or their dens/nests. 5. Landowners and leaseholders must be contacted before a survey to arrange permission to access property. 6. Where required, research permits must be obtained prior to the initiation of the survey. Information on research permits is available on the ESRD website. Conducting Surveys 1. Surveys must be conducted according to the methods outlined within this document. Specifically, survey requirements detailed in the Survey Standards in section of each ii ESRD/ Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines April 2013.

9 Guideline must be strictly followed. All deviations from the described Guidelines must be discussed and approved by the local ESRD-Wildlife Management office. 2. All efforts must be taken to limit disturbance to Sensitive wildlife Species . Sites should not be approached any closer than necessary to confirm site occupancy. Binoculars and spotting scopes must be used to limit the disturbance of the surveyors on wildlife. 3. When recording a georeferenced location, use Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM Nad 83, Zone 11 and/or 12) or Latitude/Longitude whenever possible (the Alberta Township System [ATS] is too general for location information).

10 Analysis and Reporting 1. Following the completion of wildlife surveys, all data for wildlife Species must be submitted into the Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS). database via load forms. Information on FWMIS and the load forms can be obtained at 2. FWMIS submissions must include a detailed account of survey Guidelines used, target Species , date, weather conditions, ground conditions, observers, wildlife observed or not observed, and the details on important wildlife features or habitats (nest, den, colony, etc.). When possible, photos of the site, maps, and other pertinent information should be included in the FWMIS submission.