B.C. community leaders have joined the call by a national forest industry group to include them in federal efforts to protect dwindling caribou herds.
The federal Species at Risk Act has listed northern boreal and southern mountain caribou as B次元官网网址渢hreatened,B次元官网网址� and the B.C. government is continuing its program to restore habitat and reduce the impact of predators on vulnerable caribou calves.
In the Kootenay and Peace regions, those efforts have included capturing mothers with newborn calves in protective pens, and shooting or poisoning wolves that target caribou herds in winter and early spring.
Chetwynd Mayor Merlin Nichols got support at last weekB次元官网网址檚 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention for the federal and provincial governments to include local governments in discussions, and include issues like back-country tourism and other industries in new rules.
B次元官网网址淲e have government-to-government discussions going on, and we are asked to pick up the crumbs of what is being discussed,B次元官网网址� Nichols said.
Tumbler Ridge Mayor Don McPherson said his community deals with grizzly bears that thrive in reclaimed coal mine sites and venture into town, as well as mountain goats and other species that may not be considered in a federal focus on caribou.
B次元官网网址淲e know the value of our pristine environment and our wildlife,B次元官网网址� McPherson said. B次元官网网址淲e also like paycheques and jobs. We want to be part of the solution.B次元官网网址�
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The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has released detailing its efforts to research caribou habitat needs and take protective actions. It includes B.C. maternal penning projects and wolf control in B.C., and researching ways to improve lichen growth and protect against cross-species disease transmission in Alberta.
FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor said the report is to highlight progress and build on successful strategies that have been developed over many years. In an interview with Black Press, he said the industry is concerned that a federal focus on one species that may have unintended consequences.
B次元官网网址淵ou have provincially mandated forestry rules out of B.C. that approve forest management plans based on dozens of values B次元官网网址� fire suppression, watershed protection, dealing with every mammal, bird and fish that might be living in that harvesting area, where are the calving grounds, where are the eaglesB次元官网网址� nests,B次元官网网址� Nighbor said.
B次元官网网址淲e have a number of projects across the country that are starting to pay dividends, so weB次元官网网址檇 like to see some doubling down on those efforts and expanding those programs.B次元官网网址�
The B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 warns B次元官网网址渢he public and industry will not be supportive of all our decisions,B次元官网网址� and describes collaboration work needed to bring interests on board.
It also describes the limits of what is possible in a province that has widespread disturbance of the landscape, which has been addressed with protected areas and restrictions on snowmobile and off-road traffic in caribou range.
B次元官网网址淩ecovering all of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 caribou herds may not be feasible, without unlimited funding and control over land use,B次元官网网址� the recovery program website states. B次元官网网址淲e need to prioritize our decisions for all 54 herds.B次元官网网址�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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