The Chilcotin Ark is a complex 2.5 million ha area ecosystem located on the lee side of the Coast Range Mountains. Containing thirteen biogeoclimatic zones that create optimal habitat for a variety of species like grizzly bear, caribou and mountain goat, this region is a biodiversity hotspot that is deeply interconnected. The term „Ark“ has first been used by conservationist Ric Careless, who states that the Chilcotin Ark, because of its vertical elevation profile, is an optimal refuge for plants and animals in case of climate change. 

In his photography book “British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast” (2016) Chris Harris identifies the Ark as “North America’s most diverse wilderness complex, the Chilcotin Ark provides protection and sustenance to a myriad of temperate latitude species, performing the same function as the Arctic National Refuge does for Arctic ecosystems.”

The animals that reside here migrate between the ten parks, three protected areas and four conservation areas. For the transition zones between the parks Land and Resource Management Plans exist, but are not implemented. It’s essential to manage the habitat between protected land to achieve maximum wildlife population numbers for the habitat‘s potential carrying capacity, this being the indicator for sustainable land management. The protected areas are too small to sustain viable populations of certain species and will become ‘islands of extinction’ without implementation of the working landscape concept throughout the Ark. For that reason the Chilcotin Ark Stewardship Plan is a guideline that spans the Ark to assure wildlife migration routes and habitat connectivity are conserved on a high level.

Wildlife data collection reveals that population numbers for all species are far below the habitat’s potential carrying capacity, estimated at only 20% for some species like mule deer and moose. The parks located within the Chilcotin Ark are doughnut holes of physical landforms, mostly inhabited seasonally by migratory wildlife. Wildlife population numbers are mostly dictated by the land management of the wildlife habitat outside the park. The entire Chilcotin Ark must be managed as a working conservation landscape, to include all users for overall support of the end goal. Resource users and conservation initiatives must include and enhance wildlife management outside the park boundaries to achieve maximum wildlife population numbers for the habitat‘s potential carrying capacity, this being the indicator for sustainable land management.