CASE STUDY
Teck helps protect grizzly bears in Canadian foothills
Teck is supporting a research program set up to protect the endangered grizzly bear population in Alberta, Canada. Grizzly bear numbers have declined rapidly over the past few decades and it is now estimated that less than 700 remain in the region. The Foothills Research Institute runs a grizzly bear program near Teck’s Cardinal River Operations (CRO), where Teck's participation includes analyzing data to evaluate the impact of mining on the animal. The objective is to provide knowledge and planning tools to land and resource managers to ensure the long-term conservation of grizzly bears in Alberta.
The program comprises three main elements: research; adaptive management; and partnerships. Through this research, new knowledge and tools are available that provide accurate information on how grizzly bears use and move across not only the regional landscape, but through a reclaimed mine landscape. For example, Marc Symbaluk, CRO’s environmental administrator completed his M.Sc. thesis “Testing Landscape Modelling Approaches for Environmental Impact Assessment of Mining Land Use on Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the Foothills Region of West Central Alberta”. This is the first of such research conducted in North America and the findings disprove many of the conclusions presented in the late 1990s regarding the predicted impact of mining on regional grizzly bear populations.
This is the first of such research conducted in North America
Since 1999, CRO (and its predecessor Cardinal River Coals Ltd.), have provided over $400,000 (CAN) in financial support to the Foothills Research Institute’s grizzly bear program (which includes postgraduate research). This research has improved the understanding of regional grizzly bear populations, their movements and habitat use. Teck continues to adapt and improve their mining and reclamation practices in an effort to sustain and protect current grizzly bear populations, as well as maintain and create habitat.
CASE STUDY DETAILS
- Published
- 30 July 2010
- Company
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Teck
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