The Canadian BEACONs Project was founded at the University of Alberta in recognition of the need for a "made in Canada" approach to conservation planning in Canada's boreal region. We are building a credible scientific framework for comprehensive conservation planning through the development and application of leading edge conservation science that includes consideration of both protected areas and lands managed for other values. The premise of our research is that the ultimate goal of conservation is to identify human activities that are compatible with the maintenance of biological diversity and integrity of ecological systems. The conceptual scientific framework guiding our research is the Conservation Matrix Model.

Meet the BEACONs Research Team

	Established in 2003, the home of the BEACONs' Team is the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. Members of the BEACONs team are also affiliated with Université Laval ...

What is the Conservation Matrix Model?

	CMM is the framework guiding our research. It is comprised of 4 principal components: ecological benchmarks areas, additional reserves, active management areas, and the larger conservation matrix ...