Master's Project

Ungulate Pathways of the West: ExaminingConservationChallenges & Opportunities for Ungulate Migrations through Case Studies (09)

Project Status:
Past Project
Link to Final Report:
Ungulate Pathways of the West: Examining conservation challenges and opportunities for ungulate migrations through case studies
Year project was Completed:
2009
Link to multimedia or video:
Ungulate Pathways of the West: Examining conservation challenges and opportunities for ungulate migrations through case studies
SNRE Faculty Advisor:
Steve Yaffee and Julia Wondolleck
Advisor Confirmed:
yes
Master Students Involved in Project:

Diane Sherman, JD/MS Environmental Policy and Planning           
Erika Hasle, MS Terrestrial Ecosystems                       
Josè G Gonzalez, MS Behavior, Education, and Communication            
Andrew Fotinos, MS Environmental Policy and Planning   
Elizabeth Nysson, MS Environmental Policy and Planning
Greg Sampson, JD/MS Conservation Biology

Project Location :
Pinedale, Wyoming
Summary of Project Idea:

Migratory ungulates have shaped the American landscape for thousands of years.  Increased human development has stopped or shorted many of these migrations.  We examined the current conservation efforts aimed at long-distance ungulate migration corridors in the Western U.S. by focusing on three case studies:

    * Grand Teton National Park Pronghorn: Upper Green River Basin, WY;
    * Clarks Fork and Cody Elk, Absaroka Divide, WY; and
    * Round Valley Mule Deer, Sierra Nevada, CA.

We assessed the management, policy, and communication strategies used in these case studies to inform the decision-making and conservation efforts of individuals, organizations, and land managers working on over-land migration corridors.  The team will produce a comprehensive project report as well as condensed scientific and policy pieces targeted to specific audience needs.