Alberta Wildlife Habitat Risk Zones for Renewable Energy Siting

A spatial dataset ranking wildlife habitat sensitivity to guide renewable energy project siting in Alberta. It classifies zones into Critical, High, Moderate, and Lower risk categories based on proximity to native grasslands and presence of species at risk. The data was developed by the Government of Alberta in concert with provincial Wildlife Directives for wind and solar energy projects.

Use Cases

• Identify Critical Wildlife Zones and Non-Accessible Areas to avoid for renewable energy project site selection.
• Analyze High Risk zones for likely presence of species at risk or priority management species.
• Assess Moderate Risk areas for potential mitigation requirements and added project costs.
• Evaluate Lower Risk zones, typically 500-1000 meters from native grassland, for residual habitat quality.

Strengths

• Developed in concert with official provincial Wildlife Directives for wind and solar energy projects.
• Provides a clear, ranked classification system (Critical, High, Moderate, Lower) for habitat sensitivity.
• Includes specific spatial criteria, such as proximity to native grasslands (500-1000 meters for lower risk zones).

Limitations

• Spatial coverage is limited to the province of Alberta, not applicable to other regions.
• Risk classifications are based on provincial directives and methods that may become outdated.
• Dataset format includes XML and ZIP, which may require specialized GIS tools for full analysis.

Provenance

Source

Government of Alberta

Collection Method

Developed in concert with the Wildlife Directive for Alberta Wind Energy Projects and Wildlife Directive for Alberta Solar Energy Projects.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated March 2026.

Geography

Alberta, Canada