Current Mikjikj/Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) monitoring and conservation strategies in Unama’ki
Malcolm Fenech1, Jessica Poirier1, Seth Doucette1, Erica Anderson1,2
1Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, Eskasoni, NS
2Cape Breton Privateland Partnership, Port Hawkesbury, NS
Mikjikj/Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in Unama’ki/Cape Breton have largely been understudied compared to Wood Turtles on mainland Nova Scotia. However, since the Maliamu'kik Msit Ko'kqmanaq program began in 2020, the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) has led Wood Turtle monitoring and conservation in Unama’ki using Etuaptmumk/Two-eyed seeing approach. Wood Turtle presence-absence surveys were conducted using Mi’kmaq knowledge and Thomas Baker’s Wood Turtle distribution model (2022). Surveys have been conducted for 4 years with partner organizations which have revealed new locations of Wood Turtles that were previously undocumented in Unama’ki. Observations made from community members have also enhanced the success of recent monitoring. A growth in knowledge of Wood Turtles in Unama’ki has shifted the monitoring and conservation approach used where implementation of area-specific conservation actions can now be taken and threats to populations can be studied in more detail.
Keywords: Indigenous-led conservation, Etuaptmumk, Mi’kmaq-led conservation, Two-eyed seeing, Cape Breton
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