Woodland Caribou Public Meetings
September 1, 2017
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Wildlands Advocate update by Carolyn Campbell
Woodland caribou are amazing creatures that are in real trouble in Alberta.
For 40 years, Alberta governments have stated their support for caribou recovery and done the opposite. Their actions have allowed forestry and energy industry activity to degrade severely the home ranges of this boreal icon. In October 2017, provincial caribou range plans are finally due under the 2012 federal boreal woodland caribou recovery strategy. The plans must outline how Alberta will protect and restore its overly fragmented caribou ranges to attain at least 65 percent undisturbed habitat. This is the minimum our endangered caribou need to have a chance to recover. The Alberta government has indicated it will circulate draft range plans in late October 2017 for public comment. This will be a pivotal moment. Will Alberta reverse decades of delays and take the vital first step to protect and recover the habitat that Alberta’s woodland caribou urgently need to survive?
