BC Commits to Legislate Protection of 2.2 Million Hectares for World’s Only Mountain Caribou

Major conservation milestone signals momentum for forest and wildlife protection in BC; Environmentalists say bar raised for forest protection across Canada

VICTORIA, BC -- A coalition of ten leading environmental groups today celebrated a major milestone in their campaign to protect mountain caribou habitat in the globally unique Inland Temperate Rainforest. Today's long awaited recovery implementation plan commits the BC government to protecting, by spring 2008, over 2.2 million hectares of old-growth cedar, pine and spruce forests, an area more than 2/3rd the size of Vancouver Island and twice the size of Jamaica. This will include new protections amounting to over 380,000 hectares, larger than the entirety of Clayoquot Sound, and upgraded protections over hundreds of thousands more. The plan also commits government to developing more environmentally friendly forest management approaches in surrounding forest habitat.

”These new commitments are critical for the survival of one of North America's most endangered mammals, and have raised the bar for future forest protection across Canada,” said Candace Batycki of ForestEthics. “Today’s announcement is a victory for the thousands of citizens from BC and beyond who made their voices heard about the critical role old growth forests play in endangered species protection and climate change mitigation.”

Mountain caribou, represented on the Canadian quarter since 1937, are an ecotype of the woodland caribou that are found across Canada and parts of Alaska. Mountain caribou live in old-growth forests in steep mountain ranges where they rely on tree lichens for winter food. Mountain caribou numbers have plummeted from about 2,500 animals in 1997 to 1,900 today, largely due to logging, road building and flooding from dams. Today’s announcement commits the BC government to restore their numbers to at least 2,500 animals.

Over the past three years of the campaign, which included targeted advertising, public service announcements and community outreach, messages were sent to government by celebrities, business leaders and over 16,000 members of the general public, all in a bid to protect the mountain caribou habitat identified by the government's own science team.

“Three years ago, the importance of habitat protection wasn't fully appreciated,” said John Bergenske of Wildsight. “Predator control was touted as the silver bullet for saving caribou. But today, habitat protection is recognized as the major focus of caribou recovery, and any intended predator control will be subject to stringent criteria to be developed by the Ministry of Environment. It's a big win for the wildlife and people of British Columbia, and indeed for the global community.”

Roy Howard of Fraser Headwaters Alliance said: “While this announcement represents government’s commitment, there is still much painstaking work necessary to achieve legalization of these promises. This will be especially challenging in areas like Revelstoke and the North Thompson, where less forest has been allocated for protection. Our organizations are committed to working hard in our regions to ensure the strongest possible, legally binding protections are put in place over the coming months. All eyes are on implementation.”

Environmentalists credit today's announcement to the increased saliency of environmental issues.

“The public is demanding environmental protection like never before,” said Rob Duncan of the Sierra Club of Canada – BC Chapter. “The public is ready to make its voice heard, and to hold governments to account. Areas like the Inland Temperate Rainforest are unique and globally significant, and people across North America know this region needs greater protection. We're all committed to making that happen, for endangered species, for clean air and water, and to mitigate climate change.”

The government's mountain caribou recovery implementation plan includes:
1. 2.2 million hectares protected from logging and road building, including new protected areas adding up to over 380,000 ha, and upgraded protections over hundreds of thousands more;
2. Protection of 95% of the high suitability caribou habitat identified by the government's mountain caribou science team;
3. A commitment to develop new management approaches in remaining habitat that will restore forests to conditions that support a healthier predator-prey balance; and
4. Development of stewardship agreements for commercial and non-commercial snowmobiling, heli-skiing and cat-skiing, and legal access closures of areas that science team members deem important for caribou.