Can Parks Keep Pace with Recreation Demands while also Protecting Wildlife

Setting aside natural habitats in parks is a major strategy for protecting biodiversity. Yet these parks are also increasingly important for human health and well-being. For example, in recent years outdoor recreation in parks has grown dramatically in British Columbia, representing a significant part of the economy This has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety precautions have limited indoor gatherings and international travel. What has this increase in human activity meant for the wildlife that call these parks home? Can park managers effectively protect wildlife while meeting our collective desire for more time in nature?

During this webinar Professor Cole Burton will share his latest research completed with the Wildlife Coexistence Lab and collaborators. With hundreds of motion-triggering camera traps placed in and around parks in Southwestern BC, as well as elsewhere in the world, Cole and his team are gathering data on a range of wildlife species and human recreational activities.

About the Speaker
Dr. Cole Burton is an Assistant Professor in in the Department of Forest Resources Management and the Canada Research Chair in Terrestrial Mammal Conservation. Cole’s research is motivated by the challenge of human-wildlife coexistence on an increasingly crowded planet. He seeks to support evidence-based policy decisions through an understanding of wildlife responses to a changing environment.

Cole specializes in studying terrestrial mammals using innovative monitoring methods, including camera “traps”, and has a particular interest in the conservation of large carnivores prone to conflict with people. He has worked collaboratively with governments, industry, ENGO’s and academics in both Canadian and international contexts. He has an MSc in Zoology from UBC and a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Cole leads the Wildlife Coexistence Lab at UBC and teaches courses in wildlife ecology, management and conservation.

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