Mon 26 Mar 2007
From the Kootenay News Advertiser
By LISA CRANE
At the end of February, Kimberley City Council passed a resolution that they would “support the Province of British Columbia’s efforts to recover mountain caribou, primarily by protection of mountain caribou old growth habitat from further logging and motorized recreation access; and that the Province follow the most protective recommendations of the Provincial Mountain Caribou Science Team.”
Kimberley’s resolution was passed as a result of a request by Wildsight Program Manager Dave Quinn to comment on a draft Mountain Caribou recovery plan by the provincial government’s Species-at-Risk Coordinators Office. At the regular Council meeting on February 26, Quinn recommended that Council support the proposed recovery plan but more emphasis should be placed on habitat protection. His presentation focused on why caribou are threatened and that habitat protection is the key to their survival.
Quinn outlined the reasons for caribou decline: “reduction and fragmentation of habitat by logging and degradation of habitat by recreation.” He added that this results in changing population balances and increased (more than normal) predation on mountain caribou. Quinn quoted Dr. Bruce Fraser from the BC Government Forest Practices Board who said in 2006, “Scientists tell us existing caribou management guidelines are not working as evidenced by continuing decline of caribou populations.”
Quinn commented that habitat management and conservation, commercial recreation management, management of predator and prey balance and, if enough habitat is protected and the other issues are dealt with, augmentation of herds (any herds less than 75 animals need attention) are immediate issues to be addressed as well as ensuring ongoing monitoring.
He emphasized that mountain caribou recovery is in the best interests for Kimberley as the town relies on our wilderness surrounds to draw tourists and for industry, as companies that have achieved Forest Stewardship Certification will increase their markets. Tembec is currently working toward certification. He added that the recovery will benefit other species as well, as grizzly bear, lynx and wolverine have similar habitat under pressure.
The resolution to the provincial government stated that Council believes that a balance can be found for recreation access and for ensuring protected habitat for sensitive species such as caribou and that “our quality of life, the long term sustainability of our industries, and our most precious asset – wilderness, will all benefit from the protection of mountain caribou habitat.”
Recently, Wildsight partnered with the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club to help the plight of the endangered mountain caribou herds.
