To guide the Tłı̨chǫ Highway Wildlife Monitoring Program, the Tłı̨chǫ Tı̨lıı̀ Deè Committee was established in January 2021.

One of the key recommendations from the Committee is to monitor habitat impacts once the Tłı̨chǫ Highway is operational. Following this recommendation and the goals of the Tłı̨chǫ Highway Wildlife Monitoring Program, the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s Department of Culture and Lands Protection (DCLP) developed new vegetation survey methods.

The purpose of these vegetation surveys are to collect and analyse tǫdzı and hozìı ekwǫ habitat data overtime to measure the impact of the Tłı̨chǫ Highway to the plants and habitat in the area. This is a first step in collecting baseline vegetation data along the Tłı̨chǫ Highway as part of a longer monitoring program once the road opens.  

Tłı̨chǫ Highway Monitors from the DCLP - Albert Nitsiza, Jody Zoe, and Lisa Marie Smith - completed vegetation surveys from August 23-27, 2021, alongside Kalene Gould from The Firelight Group.

Success Stories and Lessons Learned: 

The vegetation surveys used methods new to the Tłı̨chǫ Highway Monitors and the DCLP. Within a limited time frame, the Monitors were able to collect a lot of good quality baseline vegetation data which will support future work and analysis. Nineteen vegetation plots were sampled over the four days the surveys took place and they collected over 2,000 data points!

For more information contact:
Tyanna Steinwand,
Manager of Research Operations,
Department of Culture and Lands Protection
PH:  867-392-6381 Ext 1357