Arviat (Sep 04/06) - The mapping of Kivalliq vegetation could play a big role in protecting wildlife habitat in the region.

Regional wildlife biologist Mitch Campbell of Arviat said the Nunavut government is mapping the region's vegetation to gain an understanding of why animals go where they go, and what areas and types of vegetation are important to them.

"Plants are the primary producers which make everything go round."

"We have to understand plants if we want to understand anything else," he said.

Satellite imagery is used to show grass, lichen, combination, shrub, wet and dry sites.

Used in conjunction with tracking collars placed on caribou, the two sources of information can give scientists a better picture of where caribou spend their time during the different seasons.

The information can also be used to see where wolves and grizzly bears den, and how many may be there.

Imagery is provided by a Landset satellite, which boasts 33-metre resolution.

Each pixel has a reflector on a spectral scale related to sensors on the satellite.

Campbell said software is then used to assign colours to make each image visually unique.

He said every colour represents a different type of plant life or geology, such as rocks, lakes and clouds, each with their own signature.

Benchmark photos are made at each site, which can be compared in the future.

The photos can be looked at to determine how a site has changed due to climate warming, time or animal use.

The technique can be used to look at both past changes and those that may occur in the future.

He said the technique can show scientists what steps might be taken to mitigate the change, or provide the necessary information to inform the public about the change before it happens.

"We can also take habitat information on what areas are important to caribou during certain times of the year and use it, when necessary, to try and mitigate development.

"That can help us to direct the development so it has a lower impact on wildlife.

"We need to log important areas to caribou and other wildlife to ensure they remain available to them for perpetuity, so people can always harvest the animals."

Mapping can also interest other parties into looking at an area.

Very few outdoors lovers would come into an unknown area, but, once mapped, they can see areas they may want to visit and the same idea applies to science.

Campbell said when you look at ecology, there's nothing mapped and nobody knows what to look for.

But, with vegetation mapping, a stage can be set up for a more-detailed look at the ecological processes that keep wildlife healthy.

"Mapping also helps us keep track of numbers and address community concerns about opening commercial and sport harvests.

"It gives us more tools to provide information to a community for its decision-making process.