Adaptive management will not work unless we learn more about ecological relationships. In the absence of hunting and predation, reindeer can persist in markedly altered habitats, as seen in Scandinavia. One approach is zonal management where wolves are controlled in order to protect caribou. Ultimately, the opinions of an urban society will decide the fate of endangered groups of caribou. There is a fragile balance between conserving threatened species and creating jobs and sustaining development.
Politicians lean toward the latter because the former is a grey area with great uncertainty.
Better knowledge of caribou ecology certainly is a prerequi- site. Some small changes to the way we do business can make the difference between losing populations of caribou or sustaining them. In some cases we can create caribou habitat. Whether caribou will use the food in artificial landscapes remains to be seen. One task is to educate people who are in a position to make a difference.