Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Woodland caribou habitat potential within the provincial forest of central and northern Saskatchewan has been identified by Saskatchewan, using a forest ecosite geographic information system layer which has been mapped for the area. Forest ecosites represent information about a site’s tree species, plant-abundance and soil and site characteristics (McLaughlan et al., 2010). Forest ecosite habitat potential ranks were assigned by individually evaluating the ecosite’s potential to provide forage, refuge and calving habitat. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Forage value was rated based on the availability of lichen and other plant species, which are palatable to caribou (Thomas and Armbruster, 1996).</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Refuge value was rated based on the availability of plant species which provide food value for other ungulates (e.g. moose, deer, elk). This was used as a surrogate for the probability of predation. If these food sources are not present, the ecosite has potential to provide refuge for caribou from predators. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Calving and post-calving ratings were made in consideration of both the time of calving and the following two to four-week period. The primary consideration was safety from predation. The related factors considered were the ability to hide a calf and the lack of spring black bear forage. A secondary consideration was whether there was caribou forage available on the site.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Ecosite rankings were completed by a panel of biologists with expertise on woodland caribou habitat use in Saskatchewan. Forest ecosites were mapped with the assigned habitat potential value.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>