OPEN HOUSE PRESENTATIONS JANUARY 25, 2018 ZAMA CITY ~ RAINBOW LAKE LA CRETE ~ HIGH LEVEL MANNING ~ EUREKA RIVER PADDLE PRAIRIE Need clarification Presenters: please ask! Lisa Wardley, Chair NWSAR & Deputy Reeve Byron Peters, Deputy CAO, Mackenzie County and Lead We want us all to Admin NWSAR Committee leave tonight informed! Plus input from other NWSAR Committee members! Introductions of other NWSAR members in attendance… Introduction to NWSAR Committee The NWSAR Committee: The Six NW Municipalities ~ Mackenzie County, County of Northern Lights, County of Clear Hills and the Towns of High Level, Rainbow Lake and Manning. Organized in the Fall of 2016, forged out of necessity when the Province quietly suggested preserving 1.8 million hectares of land in our region in an effort to protect the Woodland Caribou – which are listed within the Species at Risk legislation along with over 540 other animals, plants, birds … similar to Grizzly Bear, Wood Bison, Whooping Crane and the newly added Barn Swallow. Mission: to ensure that the local voices and perspective are heard by the higher level of governments and put forward locally endorsed recommendations for Caribou Population Recovery that aren’t focused on additional land protection. Introduction to NWSAR Region NWSAR Region: Population: 30,000 (approx.)
Area: 165,000 square kilometers (approx.) (including WBNP), which is a larger land base than 3 Atlantic Provinces (NB, NS and PEI) Five First Nations and one Metis settlement Industries ~ our area is heavily resourced based Energy, Forestry Agriculture and all the related support services Five Woodland Caribou herds; Covering 39% of the Region Chinchaga, Bistcho, Yates, Caribou Mountains and a portion of the Red Earth herd. Alberta Caribou
16 Populations of Caribou in Alberta: Listed as ‘Threatened’ both Provincially and Federally. The NWSAR region has 5 of the 16 herds within the landbase Four of our herds are cross-jurisdictional (BC, NT, Federally or a combination) The Banff herd was extirpated in 2009. GPS and Telemetry are used to locate and count Caribou and populations are estimates. Alberta Population numbers are estimated at 2608-2849 total animals. Federal – SARA Quick Facts
2012 the Federal Government released their Woodland Caribou Recovery Strategy Objective: “ The recovery goal for boreal caribou is to achieve self-sustaining local populations in all boreal caribou ranges throughout their current distribution in Canada, to the extent possible.” Federal – SARA Quick Facts
In the Federal Strategy they list primary indicator of success is the disturbance threshold for each range being greater than 65% undisturbed habitat. We feel that the primary indicator of success is the population moving in an upward direction! Introduction to NWSAR Current ‘Parks’
Largest National Park – Wood Buffalo National Park Largest Provincial Park – Caribou Wildland Park All the parks, protected and notated areas in our region add up to…. …over 52,000 square Km’s or about 31% of the NWSAR Land Mass!
The 31% doesn’t include the proposed 1.8 now down to 1.6 million hectares of P8, F20 or F10
F23 was originally proposed but was removed after initial conversations between Province and LRRCN Introduction to NWSAR Industries
CURRENT MORATORIUM within ALL Caribou Ranges Forestry and Oil & Gas are our two largest regional Industries… Over 38% of our forestry sector is active within our caribou ranges… with an allowable cut at over 5.5 million m3, which equates to $1 billion of annual revenue and 650 full-time equivalent jobs. Our NWSAR FMA holders are West Fraser, Tolko, Norboard, La Crete Saw Mills and DMI RED – shows current FMA (Forest Management Areas in Alberta) GREEN – shows potential areas for Forestry expansion of FMA’s (currently unallocated Forest Management units, such as P8, F10, F20, F23) Introduction to NWSAR Industries CURRENT MORATORIUM within ALL Caribou Ranges Forestry and Oil & Gas are our two largest regional Industries… There is approximately $2.9 billion dollars of ‘established today’ proven oil & gas reserves, available for extraction with the NWSAR Caribou ranges… with future development estimated at more than $90 billion. These figures do not include: geothermal, gravel or other energy or mineral opportunities. Northern Pipeline Infrastructure Snapshot… Operating Pipelines: Orange is Gas Purple is Oil Grey is Condensate Green is Vapor Pressure/Products Snapshot of Region: Where assessment and development is concentrated along with overlay of Caribou Ranges.
*Lease Moratorium is active in within all range boundaries NWSAR Impact to Municipalities Moratoriums on new land sales and leases, as well as restrictions on permits have been in place in some areas within the region since 2012. The linear table is based on the current infrastructure within the full caribou ranges. While data collection has begun in this area there is not enough yet to justify a exhaustive opinion to the full potential impacts to local municipalities and communities. (p.79 of the NWSAR report) Introduction to NWSAR Industries
CURRENT MORATORIUM within ALL Caribou Ranges Our other industries such as Agriculture has a symbiotic relationship with our two major industries as a majority of our farm families either currently or has in the past supplemented with off-farm income… as well as support services supply whole region. Our support and soft services heavily rely on all our Industries in order to thrive. Future opportunities that have yet to be realized: . such as geo-thermal, lithium, gravel, farmland expansion and other minerals or land based economic drivers need to be considered for the health and future of our Region. We require all parts and pieces within the region to be vibrant and successful to ensure future prosperity for all. Geo-Thermal – A Possibility cut off….
Locations 1 & 2 have excellent thermal potential and record the highest temperatures at the shallowest well depth in the Province and currently contain 32 & 219 abandoned wells… but are relatively far away from electrical demand and transmission. So they targeting initial project on site #4. G7G Rail – A Possibility pushed south….
The G7G Railway is gaining steam… • additional protected areas in the North… • decreased economic activity… • Increased Northern uncertainty… Will the AB Trans Highway Corridor option prevail and the North loses out on much needed infrastructure and a large economic driver! NWSAR What we have done so far… Talked to the ‘locals’ – ensuring we are heard! Hundreds of hours of meetings, conversations, events and open houses with local stakeholders, businesses and associations, whether as a full committee or more of a share the workload approach! Discussions and input from local trappers and outfitters and their respective associations Travelled to and met locally with our industries and large stakeholders (Forestry and Oil and Gas) as well as their respective Associations, have created partnerships and information sharing with this group who are also active in much of the industry led research Utilized local, municipal, association and stakeholder resources for data gathering NWSAR What we have done so far… Provincial & Federal and Neighboring Jurisdictions…
To date, there has been limited engagement from both the Federal and Provincial levels of governments in our region, and looks like our region will have one public chance in High Level on March 6 to comment on the recent released Provincial Draft plan.
Met with parties in Ottawa on two occasions and with Provincial Ministers and staff multiple times over the past year and a half… taking what we have learned and local input forward and we were optimistic that they were listening.
Met with NWT government representatives in January 2017
Limited involvement in North-Eastern BC Round table discussions
June, 2017 our draft Recommendations for Caribou Population Recovery was submitted to the both government levels for comment
Submitted the final Report at the end of September 2017.
Other than a few token check-box meetings in November 2017 with the Minister and Staff there was no additional conversational opportunities to discuss our Recommendations with the Province. NWSAR What have we done so far… Other meetings and advancements:
Met multiple ENGO’s and CPAWS and the AWA with their presentation was included in our last round of open houses
AAMDC (Alberta Rural Municipality Assoc.) we took forward resolutions starting in the fall of 2016, then in the Spring of 2017 and Fall of 2017… which were passed with high majorities, regarding Species At Risk, Land Use Planning, Inter-jurisdicational Collaboration etc
AUMA (Alberta Urban Municipality Assoc.) we took forward and were successful for similar Species at Risk resolutions within the Urban association
Alberta Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution at their Provincial Conference regarding the Socio-economic impact of SAR
Invited and were included in a Municipal Leadership panel as a guest speaker during the Alberta Forest Products Association Convention in fall of 2017 talking about NWSAR and our region
Multiple news releases, interviews, articles, collaboration with Saskatchewan Municipal Association and groups
Currently completing a video series showcasing the ‘people’ of the affected Caribou Ranges.
Mackenzie Region predator-control program in place since mid-2016 (200+) NWSAR Report: Challenge #1 Challenge: Land Management and regulatory policy
Recommendation: To integrate and accelerate discussions for regional land-use planning and growth in caribou range planning for northwestern herds What the Province Permanent protection and the restrictions of land uses should be considered in a regional land- said: We do not have use planning context. the resources or the time to put the The regional planning process should take precedent, rather than be pre-determined by other Regional Plans in initiatives such as Caribou Planning place before the Caribou Plans and the The tools for effective land-based plans require inter-agency, inter-industry, and inter- Caribou Plans will be jurisdictional coordination as is associated with Regional Advisory Councils (RAC) incorporated into the Regional planning These regional plans support a management approach that take into account both public and process when the private land. time comes. Essential monitoring of critical habitat and population trends could also be established by the Lower Peace Regional Plan and implemented through the RAC in collaboration with local stakeholders NWSAR Report: Challenge #2 Challenge: Lack of Data
Recommendation: Gather and update range specific data
Have had a Use the efforts and knowledge of multiple sources for accurate data to be able to minimal understand the true NW human footprint. Provincial response on this Gain knowledge of critical areas of habitat restoration, to ensure that resources are area. Federal efficiently utilized Knowledge Greater information on fire disturbance and spatial fire simulation modeling as well as Consortium effects of Climate Change on our region (such as peatlands, permafrost degradation) (Brain Box) will be formed and Utilize industry data on vegetation growth analysis, predator speed vs. vegetation a NW Working height study, caribou rearing facility data, DNA analysis and updated tracking data group will be formed, details Establish actual animal numbers, not guestimates and the actual socio-economic to follow values of the ranges NWSAR Report: Challenge #3 Challenge: Diseased bison in Wood Buffalo National Park
Recommendation: Inclusive range planning for Caribou & Bison
Solve the diseased bison issue in WBNP and inclusively plan for healthy Caribou No and Bison mention Would increase northwestern Indigenous food security by increasing the healthy of this in wildlife populations the Eliminate the disease threat to national beef industry as well as the and cross- draft infection to other wildlife. plan. This would take a coordination of multiple organizations, levels of government, municipalities, indigenous communities and local stakeholders to successfully eradicate the disease NWSAR Report: Challenge #4 Challenge: Restrictive Fur Management Area regulations
Recommendation: Local Trappers part of the solution
No mention in Partnership developed with locally-led trapping program and utilizing as a our ranged solution for overall predator-prey management for predator management Mandatory productive use of traplines, increasing trap check windows, and or government funding allotment in Caribou ranges, which would ensure the consistent use of the traplines. partnerships with Trappers The continued ability to maintain efficient and effective traplines within all or changes to Caribou ranges regardless of any future land designation the Trapping regulations Caribou and wolf populations trend monitoring, and progress monitoring should be instilled within these partnership agreements NWSAR Report: Challenge #5 Challenge: Alternative prey species management
Recommendation: Management Within Caribou ranges
No mention Alternative prey and predator species sustainable management open to regarding this northwestern outfitters and resident hunters within existing park designated areas for our ranges, Alternative prey and predator species sustainable management open to although northwestern outfitters and resident hunters within caribou ranges other ranges state the Continue to use the locally-specific knowledge and expertise of Indigenous peoples, resident hunters, outfitters and trappers and understand the ecological control or conditions of the ranges removal of Moose, deer etc. NWSAR Report: Challenge #6 Challenge: Reduced Economic Certainty in O&G Industry
Recommendation: removal of moratoriums from 2012 & 2016 Much In order to have a robust reclamation plan and funding to do so, the requirement for a robust and healthy industry is paramount. Return certainty for investment uncertainty and details Additional barriers, policy, challenges of operating in our region need to be surrounding weighed against the companies leaving liabilities unattended and the the ILM subsequent Orphan Well fund inability to properly fund the restoration. processes… Uncertainty and additional restrictions also affect new development such as details to geo-thermal and lithium (using existing infrastructure and minimizing footprint) follow Recommend an impact assessment within the moratorium /caribou areas be completed that addresses mass asset abandonment. NWSAR Report: Challenge #7 Challenge: Planning for Regional Growth
Recommendation: Strategic restoration and growth opportunities
No mention of In the absence of a Regional plan … develop corridors for the expansion and this in the draft integration of new multi-use arteries plan, other than conservation Cross provincial jurisdiction coordination for access routes, using existing areas will be footprint as much as possible…. Shared corridors between industries incorporated into future LUF plans. Some Identify, plan and future growth potential to ensure communities are remain mention about sustainable and encourage growth and vibrancy Access Management…. Identify critical habitant areas and target restoration efforts in those areas Details to follow… NWSAR Report: Challenge #8 Challenge: Disturbance… Disturbance… Disturbance
Recommendation: Define, Weight and Calculate!
On the ground, or closer to the ground surveys, age and type of disturbance and Not much inventories need to be completed and taken into account in way of details The differing types of disturbance should we weighted differently… example: a legacy seismic line that hasn’t seen activity for 40 years should not be measured included in and buffered the same as a permanent roadway. plan, these Fire mapping needs to change to accurately reflect fire disturbance. Water specific bodies and other natural features need to be removed from the disturbance areas are mapping not We strongly advocate for new science and updated site specific data collection addressed and inventories which account for regional and local conditions NWSAR Report: Challenge #9 Challenge: Indigenous Treaty Rights and Sustenance hunting
Recommendation: Resolve WBNP Bison issue, moratorium on hunting
Not addressed NWSAR does not support negative impact to treaty rights within Caribou range other than in a planning couple of the southern ranges additional Resolution of the diseased Bison herd in WBNP will assist in increasing other alternative prey species available for sustenance hunting other than Caribou. species will need additional Moratorium on Caribou hunting. When population numbers are deemed control thru appropriate a system similar to the current tag system for Hay-Zama Wood Bison hunting in for treaty sustenance hunting could be implemented conjunction with the predator Inter-jurisdictional collaboration needs to be looks at within this Challenge to management limit out of Province hunting of this protected species programs. NWSAR Report: Challenge #10 Challenge: Caribou don’t recognize the lines!
Recommendation: Trans-boundary, inter-jurisdictional collaboration
Mentioned Bistcho, Yates, Caribou and Chinchaga are all trans-boundary Caribou Herds that cross either one or a combination of provincial, territorial or federal that yes boundaries. additional conversations Mapping and data collection consistency throughout the range is required must be had in regards to trans- Management, recovery, restoration and policy consistency throughout the range boundary herds… Transparent and local involvement in coordination within range management NWSAR Report: Parks not the Solution to Caribou Recovery!
We have over 52,000 square kilometers of parks that aren’t sustaining healthy Caribou populations now…. Dropped from For the most part the NWSAR parks are inaccessible, inhospitable or both. Little proposed 1.8 to no provincial or federal funding goes into the current park areas. million hectares to A park is not a range plan, should not be created with a single-species 1.6 million approach and the limitations of parks are extensive. hectares with any additional Parks do not remove historic disturbance, only sterilize land base, and have locally proven to not increase caribou populations management policies… to Habitat solutions require access and human management and parks do not be developed use all the tools available… in the future NWSAR Report: Range Management Options
Combined local and provincial coordination of future regional and industrial growth
Updating range-specific inventories, disturbance, vegetation, population numbers etc… current science
Mitigating limiting risks posed by other wildlife, ex: diseased bison
Establishing locally-led effective predator control and trap-line usage
Decreasing industrial asset abandonment and orphan well fund burden of asset liability, by increasing regional economic certainty
Targeting orphan well funding and restoration dollars to critical areas
Land-use decisions to be based on local knowledge, Indigenous traditional knowledge and robust current scientific data
The impact of wildfire should be assessed differently to human disturbance
Inter-jurisdictional collaboration is mandatory for caribou recovery AB-Gov Report – BISTCHO Range
Forestry tenure 61% of range; O&G Permit/Lease 19%
Cross boundary with NWT and BC, borders Yates range
Overlaps with FMU’s F26 and F20 (no tenure / major allocation in F20)
62,668 km of historic seismic lines, moratoriums in place and some since 2012 Report range is states 94% disturbed, and fires account for 38% which is different from the table above. *Numbers do not add up in table AB-GOV Report – BISTCHO Range
157 animals collared – data collected 2004-2017 each dot is a ping. Some of the travel areas area outside the delineated range
Report states stable 2015-17 (Fig7) – 257 animals (*est.)
Integrated Land Management Practices will be followed (still to be developed, included in final plan)
Designation a new conservation area within a significant portion of FMU F20. No future surface disturbance will be issued within Conservation Area. Restoration plans will be developed by the NW Regional Sub- Committee (Regional Forest, Energy, Indigenous and Municipalities)
Existing leases, activities and agreements within Conservation area will be honored.
Designation will work to contribute to other regional planning initiatives for the area (i.e. LPRP)
Designation to contribute to Alberta’s goal of protecting 17% of terrestrial areas by 2020 AB-GOV Report – YATES Range
Forestry tenure 28% of range; O&G Permit/Lease 1% but does include metallic and industrial minerals, sand & gravel and Transmission lines Cross boundary with NWT and Federal WBNP, borders Bistcho and Caribou Mountain ranges Overlaps with FMU’s F26 and F10 (no tenure / allocation in F10)
6,190 km of historic seismic lines, moratoriums in place and some since 2012; does overlap with Muskwa Formation Report states herd is currently Stable – 236 animals (*est.) Report stats there is a slight population growth in recent years. Report range is states 74% disturbed, and fires account for 36%. Table numbers differ 14% of Range is currently under Conservation area (WBNP) AB-GOV Report – YATES Range
91 animals collared – 236 animals *est Data collected 2007-2017 each dot is a ping. The Blue is the Yates Herd; Red is Caribou Mountain herd Restoration plans will be developed by the NW Regional Sub- Committee (Regional Forest, Energy, Indigenous and Municipalities)
Integrated Land Management Practices will be followed (still to be developed, included in final plan)
Designation a new conservation area within a significant portion of FMU F10
No future surface disturbance will be issued within Conservation Area.
Existing leases, activities and agreements within Conservation area will be honored.
Designation will work to contribute to other regional planning initiatives for the area (i.e. LPRP)
Designation to contribute to Alberta’s goal of protecting 17% of terrestrial areas by 2020 AB-GOV Report – Caribou Mountains
Forestry tenure 28% of range; O&G Permit/Lease <1%
Cross boundary with NWT and Federal WBNP, borders Yates range
Overlaps with FMU’s F26 and F23 and F10 (no tenure / major allocation in F10) 10,480 km of historic seismic lines, moratoriums in place and some since 2012; only one active well within range Report states decline since monitoring in 1999 – 352 animals (*est.)
Report range is states 65% disturbed, and fires account for 45% which is different from the table above. 57% of Range is already under Park Protection (CWP / WBNP) AB-GOV Report – Caribou Mountains
143 animals collared – data collected 1995-2017 each dot is a ping. The Red is the Yates Herd; BLUE is Caribou Mountain herd
Restoration plans will be developed by the NW Regional Sub- Committee (Regional Forest, Energy, Indigenous and Municipalities)
Integrated Land Management Practices will be followed (still to be developed, included in final plan)
Designation a new conservation area within a significant portion of FMU F10
No future surface disturbance will be issued within Conservation Area.
Existing leases, activities and agreements within Conservation area will be honored.
Designation will work to contribute to other regional planning initiatives for the area (i.e. LPRP)
Designation to contribute to Alberta’s goal of protecting 17% of terrestrial areas by 2020 AB-GOV Report – CHINCHAGA Range
Forestry tenure 71% of range; O&G/Other Permit/Lease 34%
Cross boundary with British Columbia (report states that the range is partly in Northern Sunrise County?) Overlaps with FMU’s F26, P20, P19 and F14, P14 and P8 (no allocation in the last three but are Community Timber Permits) 62,582 km of historic seismic lines, moratoriums in place; extensive industry including oil sands tenure, coal, gravel and metallics Report states Decline, monitoring since 1982 – 74 animals (*est.) (report contradicts and states that 198 animals are collared in one place) Report range is states 97% disturbed, and fires account for 12%
5% of Range is under current Conservation areas (80,564 hectares) AB-GOV Report – CHINCHAGA Range
143 animals collared (differing info)– data collected 1995-2017 each dot is a ping.
Restoration plans will be developed by the NW Regional Sub- Committee (Regional Forest, Energy, Indigenous and Municipalities)
Integrated Land Management Practices will be followed (still to be developed, included in final plan)
Designation a new conservation area within a significant portion of FMU P8
No future surface disturbance will be issued within Conservation Area.
Existing leases, activities and agreements within Conservation area will be honored.
Designation will work to contribute to other regional planning initiatives for the area (i.e. LPRP)
Designation to contribute to Alberta’s goal of protecting 17% of terrestrial areas by 2020 AB-GOV Report – More details to come…
Communities and industry will be asked to help inform impact study – details to follow
Current disturbance needs to be reduced, and future disturbance needs to be halted (in new conservation areas) and minimized and managed in remaining range areas
AEP will lead a provincial restoration program, paid for mostly be Industry.
Industry, Indigenous peoples and municipalities will be part of the Habitat Restoration Committee – details to follow
Range plans will be updated every five years
Integrated Land Management (ILM) and Regional Access Management Plans (RAMP) will be mandatory and mostly the responsibility of Industry – details to follow
Moratoriums will continue until other measures are in place
No direct security of continued recreational and hunting access will be maintained and to what extend and in which ranges AB-GOV Report – More details to come…
Range plans will identify staged development zones, and range specific rulesets for mineral rights outside of the conservation areas.
Land sales will then continue outside the conservation areas
Forest harvesting strategies will be revised to better mimic natural disturbance (called aggregated harvesting). Outside of conservation areas.
Future coal, metallic & Industrial minerals will be potentially accessible with strict restrictions, outside of conservation areas
New sand & gravel pits developed within caribou ranges cannot export material out of the range, and only allowed outside of conservation areas.
Revegetation of transmission lines and pipelines will be required
Conservation areas will minimize or prevent new disturbance (Industrial use of any kind is not compatible with this goal, and these areas will contribute to Alberta’s overall goal of 17% protected lands) AB-GOV Report – Overview Goal 65% Restoration of legacy footprint, mainly funded by Industry undisturbed Create conservation areas that contribute to Alberta’s goal of protecting 17% habitat in of terrestrial areas by 2020 (down 20% from Denhoff Report in our region) all Caribou Ranges Create caribou rearing facilities – although none are proposed for our area
Implement Integrated Land Management, Managing Access, Energy and Forestry activities, details still forth coming
Conduct social & economic assessments – details of what will be included are not being shared, and opportunities to contribute are vague AB-Gov Report Conservation area listing – within LARP and New
Other measures (not proposed for our areas): Predator Fencing – Little Smoky Rearing Facility – Little Smoky (future Cold Lake and East Athabasca) AB-GOV Report
AB-GOV Report – Other Measures
Predator Management Programs – wolf reduction: Little Smoky & a La Peche since 2005/2006 East Side Athabasca River & Cold Lake – 2016/17
Mackenzie Region – Municipal led program started in 2016
*these actions led to the increase in Moose/Deer and the Province will now manage the increase with additional hunting opportunities.
Future Monitoring will include three key areas: 1) Population monitoring 2) Habitat condition monitoring 3) Protection measures monitoring Some Caribou Feedback…
"This seems to us like another plan to plan," said Tara Russell, a spokesperson for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society in Alberta (CPAWS)
"In the future, we need to move to a place where that's sort of an outdated dichotomy where we say it's either the environment or the economy," says Michael Cody, Biodiversity Specialist with Cenovus "Through creativity and innovation and responsible development we can have both. That's what we want to demonstrate with our work," Cody said.
"Cold Lake First Nations stands with the caribou; we stand with our elders who have derived a livelihood from this resource for thousands of years and we stand with the future generations whose right to cultural heritage has been jeopardized." says Cold Lake Chief Martial
"Today's release of incomplete range plans for woodland caribou is Alberta's second missed deadline to meet a legal requirement to protect caribou habitat," said Simon Dyer, regional director for Alberta at the Pembina Institute.
“We will have to see what the actual landscape plan is when that is finalized and we are told that will be finalized in the spring,” Mayor Chichak, Whitecourt said, adding that she hoped the finalized plan would respect the social-economic environment of the communities that depend on oil, gas and forestry.
“It declares that it’s still going to allow new forestry and new energy disturbance in already overly disturbed ranges,” Carolyn Campbell, Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) Some Caribou Feedback…
Mayor High Level Crystal McAteer: “Through our extensive research we know there is more effective ways to protect the caribou while also protecting our industries and livelihoods, which support so many of our families and communities. It is extremely disappointing to have the provincial Minister of Environment and Parks go back on her word.”
“We have been very vocal over the past year and a half, that caribou protection plans must take a balanced approach, where the economy and the environment go hand-in-hand,” Lisa Wardley, Chair NWSAR and Deputy Reeve Mackenzie County. “And what we have seen so far from the provincial government, does not support and recognize the importance of our industries.”
CAPP States: We are collaborating with the government towards a working landscape in Alberta, one that balances environmental protection with the opportunity to develop our natural resources – forest, mines and energy. Any caribou recovery strategies undertaken must take into account the potential socio-economic impacts to resource-dependent communities.
According to a long-term research project by Dr. Rob Serrouya, “to save caribou don't shoot wolves - shoot moose.”
AFPA ~ A Multi-Species Approach What helps one species may harm another. Dealing with individual threatened species in isolation of each other is not pragmatic. To help maintain healthy, diverse forests for the benefit of all wildlife, we need to take a comprehensive approach. Some Caribou Feedback…
With 3.89 million caribou spread across the country, there are more caribou than deer, moose, and elk combined. It is globally abundant, too, since the caribou of Canada is the same species as the reindeer of Eurasia. So how did the most widespread and populous ungulate end up on SAR List? It’s all about how they were counted… according to the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Canada.
Alaska Fish & Game: By carefully analyzing the most gruesome footage, the researchers were also able to identify the brown bears’ prey. More than half of their meals came from moose or caribou calves, they report this month in the Wildlife Society Bulletin. Overall, the bears killed an average of 34.4 moose and caribou calves about 45 days.
AFPA ~ The role of factors like climate change, mountain pine beetle, habitat quality, and predator/prey relationships needs to be better understood, and we need to ensure accurate counts of herd populations. Making decisions that put forests and jobs at risk without using the best available science would be irresponsible.
“Canada's Species-at-Risk Act (SARA) aims to recover all of Canada's woodland caribou populations, but ignores the huge economic costs of habitat protection and feasibility of achieving this goal.” - Mark Hebblewhite, Wildlife Biology Program at University of Montana Questions
Clear Hills County Town of Rainbow Lake Town of Manning County of Northern Lights Town of High Level Mackenzie County