[11] Between 1949 and 1981, WCS supported various activities in Canada, including arctic expeditions to Bylot Island and research on seals, merlin, whooping cranes, polar bears, and bowhead whales.
WCS Canada scientists are informing land-use planning and related policies by generating science and by applying findings to relevant conservation processes.
The results and expertise derived from WCS research and its partners have a demonstrated track record of improving policies and legislation to conserve northern wildlife and habitats.
[7][8][12][13][14] WCS Canada is working on transboundary conservation in the Northern Appalachian\Acadia Ecoregion that extends from New York State to Nova Scotia in collaboration with Two Countries, One Forest, focusing on wildlife connectivity, mapping the Human Footprint and studying the ecology of small carnivores (e.g. lynx and marten).
These planning processes allow WCS scientists to engage in land use zoning and protected area delineation by providing new science, technical support, and stakeholder commentary.
[7][12][13][14] Recently, WCS Canada conducted research on three focal species in Nahanni National Park Reserve - grizzly bear, caribou and Dall sheep.
[9] WCS Canada also undertook research in the Western Arctic including understanding the terrestrial food web, assessing the threat of mining, and polar bear conservation.
They worked with First Nations communities in Yukon and northern British Columbia by sharing WCS Canada's "expertise on conservation of fish and wildlife species to assist with the designing protected areas".
In November 2011, COSEWIC voted to accept the Designatable Unit (DU) structure for caribou in Canada based on the Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee's report.