Habitat Mapping and Forest Regeneration in the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) Region, 2025–2026

The Habitat Mapping and Forest Regeneration dataset provides high-resolution geospatial information on vegetation structure, composition, and regeneration within human footprint areas in Alberta's Oil Sands Region (OSR). Developed by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) under the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) Program, the 2025–2026 dataset uses airborne LiDAR, high-resolution aerial imagery, human footprint inventories, and machine learning approaches to map vegetation conditions and assess regeneration across disturbed landscapes. The 2025–2026 work expanded habitat mapping by approximately 28,000 km², primarily within the Athabasca Oil Sands Area and extending into portions of the Peace River and Cold Lake areas. It also refined existing analytical workflows and integrated mapping results from previous project years, bringing the combined mapped area to approximately 80,000 km². The dataset includes enhanced delineation of seismic lines and trails, vegetation classification (coniferous trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, other vegetation, and non-vegetated areas), and vegetation height, density, and canopy cover measurements across human footprint features, including seismic lines, trails, roads, pipelines, wellsites, and timber harvest areas. Three vegetation recovery metrics are provided for seismic lines and trails: functional recovery, return to forest cover, and framework recovery. These metrics characterize vegetation regeneration in relation to wildlife movement, surrounding forest conditions, and canopy structure. The dataset supports assessment of vegetation regeneration, habitat conditions, woodland caribou conservation, cumulative effects monitoring, restoration planning, and terrestrial biological monitoring across the Oil Sands Region.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Alternate Title/Name
Creator Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI)
Contributor OSM Integrated Geospatial Program
Publisher Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Subject Terrestrial Biological Monitoring, Vegetation, Forest Regeneration, Habitat Mapping, Forestry, Biodiversity, Wildlife Habitat, Woodland Caribou, Human Footprint, Land Disturbance, Ecosystem Recovery, Restoration, Cumulative Effects
Group/Subgroup Geospatial
Parameters Vegetation Type, Vegetation Class, Vegetation Height, Vegetation Density, Canopy Height, Canopy Cover, Human Footprint Type, Seismic Line Location, Seismic Line Width, Linear Disturbance Length, Functional Recovery, Return to Forest Cover, Framework Recovery, Vegetation Regeneration Status
Data Type Discrete, Continuous, Geospatial Vector Data (Points, Polylines, Polygons), Raster Data, LiDAR-Derived Data, Modelled Vegetation Attributes
Frequency Annual Project Updates (2025–2026); Modelled Spatial Snapshot
Temporal Coverage Begins 2025-04-01
Temporal Coverage Ends 2026-03-31
Spatial Coverage Oil Sands Region (OSR), Northeastern Alberta, Canada, including the Athabasca, Peace River, and Cold Lake Oil Sands Areas.
Spatial Projection NAD 1983 10TM AEP Forest (EPSG:3400)
Usage Considerations or Constraints The dataset provides modelled vegetation structure, composition, and regeneration information within mapped human footprint areas. It does not provide complete mapping of the entire Oil Sands Region. The 2025–2026 products integrate newly mapped areas with results from previous project years. LiDAR and aerial imagery were acquired at different times and from multiple sources, and vegetation conditions may not represent a single observation date across the entire dataset. Vegetation classification and recovery metrics were generated using machine learning and LiDAR-derived measurements and are subject to classification uncertainty. The vegetation classification model achieved approximately 74% overall accuracy, with varying accuracy across vegetation classes. Seismic line and trail boundaries were delineated using the semi-automated Seismic Shift workflow and manual interpretation. Estimated disturbance widths and feature boundaries may differ from the original ABMI Human Footprint Inventory. The recovery metrics represent structural and functional indicators of vegetation regeneration and should not be interpreted as confirmation of complete ecological recovery or regulatory reclamation. Users should consider imagery acquisition dates, input data quality, model assumptions, vegetation classification accuracy, and differences in processing methods when comparing mapped areas. Some input LiDAR and aerial imagery were supplied by external organizations. Redistribution permissions should be verified before sharing underlying source data. Users should consult the accompanying ABMI technical report for detailed methods, quality control procedures, model validation, and interpretation guidance.
Source/Citation Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. (2026). (2026). Habitat Mapping of Forest Regeneration: 2025–26 Technical Report for the Oil Sands Monitoring Program. Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Alberta, Canada.
Relation
Extent
Format .gdb
Resource Type Geodatabase
Language English
OSM Asset? Yes
Contact Email [email protected]