In 2012, the federal government gave provinces and territories five years to develop range plans for each ...

Environment Canada has identified the “critical habitat” that caribou need to survive and recover. A team of North America’s leading caribou experts established a strong relationship between the extents of habitat disturbance and whether a local population increases, declines or remains stable. From this, the federal government determined a continuum of risk.

Boreal woodland caribou are threatened with extinction in Canada. Decades of science show the impacts of human activities and natural disturbances within their ranges. With increased disturbance comes increased risk.

Boreal woodland caribou are threatened with extinction in Canada. Decades of science show the impacts of human activities and natural disturbances within their ranges. With increased disturbance comes increased risk.

Environment Canada has identified the “critical habitat” that caribou need to survive and recover. A team of North America’s leading caribou experts established a strong relationship between the extents of habitat disturbance and whether a local population increases, declines or remains stable. From this, the federal government determined a continuum of risk.

In 2012, the federal government gave provinces and territories five years to develop range plans for each herd that show how ranges will be managed to effectively protect critical habitat. The recovery strategy identifies a minimum of 65% undisturbed habitat in a range as the “disturbance management threshold,” which provides a 60% chance of the local herd surviving.

Ontario did not fully meet the timeline established in the Recovery Strategy for the development of range plans. To say nothing about the potential impact on caribou, the Government of Ontario’s failure to meet the deadline puts a black mark on Canada’s reputation at home and abroad.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is now casting doubt on the science to further delay action! The FPAC full-page newspaper ads and website ignore the overwhelming evidence.

The recovery strategy is clear: Less than half of Canada’s caribou populations are likely to survive unless cumulative disturbance is limited.

Caribou need their critical habitat protected now more than ever.

Please use your voice to support caribou and science.

Photo credit: Bubba55 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0