Urgent Call to Protect Endangered Caribou
Environmental organizations are rallying to demand swift action from the Canadian government to protect endangered caribou herds in British Columbia. With over ten years of delay in mapping their critical habitat, Ecojustice lawyers, representing Wildsight, Wilderness Committee, and Stand.earth, have urged Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to fulfill the government’s legal duty under the Species at Risk Act.
The Decline of Southern Mountain Caribou
The situation for Southern Mountain Caribou is alarming, particularly for the Southern Group, which has experienced a steep decline over recent decades. Environment Canada had agreed to finalize the map of critical habitats by the end of 2014, yet the deadline has come and gone, leaving caribou without the protections they desperately need. Updated habitat maps created by the B.C. government in 2020 stand ready but await federal adoption.
Habitat Destruction Amidst Inaction
A decade of inaction has led to increased logging in critical habitats, with over 310,120 hectares logged since 2007. Conservation advocates highlight that logging continues even in designated sensitive core areas. “A decade of delays has meant a decade of habitat destruction — destruction that has already wiped out several local herds,” emphasized Lucero Gonzalez from the Wilderness Committee.
Call for Government Accountability
Wildlife experts underline that preserving vast stretches of intact forest is essential for caribou survival. The continued decline is evident, with a notable 53% drop in the Southern Mountain Caribou population over six years. The groups assert that ongoing federal delays imply a tacit endorsement of the species’ eradication. Tegan Hansen from Stand.earth remarked, “Canada’s inaction has been absolutely catastrophic for caribou.”
A Grim Record of Neglect
Despite numerous internal deadlines since 2014, Environment Canada has consistently failed to map out the caribou’s habitat accurately. The current timeline is under scrutiny as the government appears hesitant to meet the 2026 deadline for a proposed updated recovery strategy. Sean Nixon from Ecojustice criticized this pattern, stating, “Successive environment ministers have unlawfully delayed for more than a decade.”
A Call to Action
The coalition of environmental organizations is adamant in its demands. They are pushing for swift identification and protection of the Southern Group’s critical habitat, with a clear deadline set for March 19, 2025. The future of these caribou hangs in the balance, resting firmly on the federal government’s immediate action to safeguard their remaining habitats.
Media Contacts
For further information, reporters are encouraged to reach out to the following:
– Eddie Petryshen, Conservation Specialist, Wildsight
– Lucero Gonzalez, Conservation and Policy Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
– Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner, Stand.earth
– Venetia Jones, Communications Manager, Ecojustice.
– Environmental groups demand urgent action to protect endangered caribou. – Southern Mountain Caribou habitat mapping is overdue by over a decade. – Logging in critical habitats has increased, threatening survival. – Population has declined by 53% in six years. – Deadline for federal action set for March 19, 2025.
The dire situation of the Southern Mountain Caribou in British Columbia underscores the urgent need for the Canadian government to take immediate action. Years of indecision have led to habitat destruction and severe population declines. Environmental groups call on the government to fulfill its legal obligations and solidify protections by completing the critical habitat mapping and recovery strategies without further delay.
Original Source: stand.earth
