Habitat is defined as highly diverse forest structure, which is primarily a function of old age. This is being measured through the tassel cap method and will be tested through correlation with radio telemetry data from the Mountain Caribou research program.
Fragmentation includes both forest clearcuts and natural fragmentation by fires and avalanches.
Results will provide a spatial representation of connectivity for old growth forest dependent species and critical areas for protection through the regional land use planning process. Forest Fuel Mapping Fire management in Glacier National Park is based on management zones of no suppression and full suppression. The decision to not suppress a forest fire is based on expected fire behaviour, values at risk, and other variables. Fire behaviour modelling requires an understanding of the fuels involved and within the expected fire spread area. This project is using the Ecological Land Classification and field sampling.