Projet
Local adaptations to Canada Goose decline in coastal Eeyou IstcheeThe Canada Goose, a key food species in Eeyou Istchee, migrates less through coastal James Bay due to a decline in eelgrass, an important stopover food source. This has negatively affected harvest success and practices of coastal communities and reinforced the value of using traditional and contemporary adaptations to the variations in the abundance of and access to Canada geese. The Eeyou Coastal Habitat Project aims to co-produce long-term monitoring tools by weaving knowledges to understand changes in coastal habitats and their impact on wildlife. In collaboration with Eeyou Knowledge Holders from four coastal communities, as well as local and regional partners, the Coastal Wildlife Team documents and monitors goose habitat use in natural and modified coastal areas. The goal of my project is to document how Eeyou modify the landscape to attract migrating geese, as well as the other adaptation strategies used to improve harvest success. I will also quantify the performance of these approaches in terms of harvest success. To achieve this, we use a network of passive wildlife monitoring stations, participatory knowledge sharing and mapping activities. Land users reported modifying the landscape to attract Canada geese, while others changed their hunting practices altogether. By documenting and mobilizing knowledge and practices used by coastal communities faced with reduced Canada Goose harvesting opportunities, this collaborative work will serve to inform and support local and regional adaptation initiatives and decision-making related to environmental changes and food security in coastal Eeyou Istchee.
