Mountain Caribou an Unlikely Resource

June 24th 2007

Clearwater Times, Page 0004, 25-Jun-2007
By Lawrence Redfern

Editor, The Times:

Since 1995 the Wells Gray mountain caribou subpopulation has declined from about 630 to 450 animals. The reasons for the decline of mountain caribou provincially have been suspected since the 70s and recently confirmed in numerous government publications.

Among the key reasons: habitat loss and fragmentation (and subsequent changes in natural predator-prey balances), and human disturbance that displaces caribou from excellent habitat (essentially further habitat loss). Mining has been specifically identified as potentially damaging to caribou as the disturbance footprint is much larger than the mine itself. Currently the government is developing a recovery plan for mountain caribou in BC, including the Wells Gray subpopulation. The government's 14-member science team report notes that a self-sustaining Wells Gray caribou subpopulations is feasible. Provincially many citizen-based groups are supporting mountain caribou recovery: from rod and gun clubs, to environmental groups, and many snowmobile clubs.

Some corporations are supporting recovery by ceasing operations within mountain caribou habitat until recovery plans are final. However, not all stakeholders are supporting the recovery planning process equally. Certainly some private short term financial interests will be constrained by conservation of the public's mountain caribou. But the values supported by healthy mountain caribou include economic value. In a place like Clearwater, with a jewel like Wells Gray Park on your doorstep, the promotion of diverse and healthy wildlife populations promotes a park asset.

Management for healthy wildlife-supporting ecosystems also promotes critical emerging social values. According to world leading experts like Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN environment program and Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN framework on climate change, healthy functioning ecosystems provide vital buffers against the impact of the current rapid climate change. BC's Chief Forester's Future Forest Ecosystems team, convened to help BC plan for healthy and productive future forests, is promoting management for ecological resilience - partly achieved by promoting biological diversity - as essential if future generations of British Columbians are to receive forest benefits as we have.

With rapid climate change and the pine beetle timber supply fall down imminent it is easy to see the value of supporting sustainable economic opportunities in BC. Keeping Wells Gray and all its components healthy today is a wise decision for Clearwater's tomorrow.

Lawrence Redfern, RPF, PAg
Castlegar, BC

Copyright 2007 clearwater