ABEKS - Community Based Ecological Monitoring Program

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, caribou, traditional knowledge, wildlife, community based monitoring, ecology

Principal Investigator: Ashthorn, Heather (4)
Licence Number: 16620
Organization: Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society
Licensed Year(s): 2020 2019 2018 2017 2017 2015 2013 2012 2011 2009 2008 2006
Issued: Sep 04, 2019
Project Team: Dorothy Ross, Millie Greenland, May Andre, John Edwards, Courtnee Kikoak

Objective(s): To document and assess changing environmental conditions in the range of the porcupine caribou herd and adjacent coastal and marine ecosystems.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4585. The objective of this project is to document and assess changing environmental conditions in the range of the porcupine caribou herd and adjacent coastal and marine ecosystems and to share information for co-management. Community based monitors are selected by local Renewable Resource Councils (RRCs) or Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs). The monitors use a survey instrument developed throughout the history of the program and work with their RRC/HTC to select local experts for interviews. The monitors interview the experts and upload answers into an online database. Data is then cleaned and sorted by DataPath Systems and made available upon request. Researchers and others may apply for access. The RRC/HTC in the community that data is requested from reviews the applications and approves or denies access. Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society (ABEKS) is currently working on a data migration plan with the Joint Secretariat to ensure ongoing access and use within existing government program and structures and is seeking the same with Gwich'in led structures. ABEKS produces a community monitor report at the end of each monitoring season. Monitors consult their communities to select data that is presented in the report. All reports are made available on the ABEKS website and shared with all participants, partners and funders. ABEKS hosts gatherings whenever funding allows. This is the primary instrument for communicating results and engaging with communities in strategic planning. ABEKS communicates regularly with the RRC/HTCs to ensure that all aspects of the program are developed in partnership. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.