In a call to action, environmental advocates urge Canada to take immediate steps to safeguard its endangered caribou herds in British Columbia. They emphasize the urgent need to map critical habitats, a task that has lingered for over a decade. Ecojustice’s lawyers have stepped in on behalf of environmental groups, demanding the government fulfill its promise to protect these vulnerable mountain caribou populations.
The Southern Mountain Caribou, particularly those in steep decline, require detailed habitat maps to recover effectively. Despite a commitment from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to finalize this mapping by 2014, the deadline has long passed and extends now into 2025. Completion of these maps could alleviate challenges in reviving herds already suffering from habitat loss.
Advocates assert that studies consistently show caribou thrive in expansive, undisturbed forests. Eddie Petryshen from Wildsight highlighted the lack of meaningful action from the federal government as habitat destruction continues. “The federal government has committed to recovering caribou, but so far all we’ve seen is a decade-long plan to make a plan” – Eddie Petryshen, Wildsight.
Without the necessary federal intervention under the Species at Risk Act, logging activities in critical habitats have tragically escalated since 2014. Analysis from Wilderness Committee revealed significant logging, with over 310,000 hectares affected, including highly sensitive core habitats. Many licenses have even been granted for logging in wildlife-sensitive zones.
Lucero Gonzalez of the Wilderness Committee pointed out the dire consequences of inaction: local herds have already been decimated. “What we are demanding from Canada is not a favour; it is their legal duty under the Species at Risk Act. And right now, they are failing” – Lucero Gonzalez, Wilderness Committee.
Statistics showed a staggering 53% decline in Southern Mountain Caribou populations over six years, exacerbated by ongoing habitat loss. The urgent letter from environmental groups underscored the federal government’s neglect, equating delays to an endorsement of an impending extinction.
Tegan Hansen from Stand.earth remarked on the catastrophic impact of government inaction, linking it to the decline of communities reliant on caribou. “As caribou continue to die out, it’s practically impossible to interpret this government’s failure as anything other than signing off on extinction” – Tegan Hansen, Stand.earth.
Despite repeatedly setting internal deadlines, ECCC has failed to make significant progress in identifying critical habitat. Already, there are worries that the new 2026 timeline may not be met, adding to an unsettling trend of delays in protecting endangered species.
Overall, Ecojustice and its partners are demanding urgent action from Environment and Climate Change Canada. They have set a deadline of March 19, 2025, for the federal government to complete the critical habitat mapping and initiate necessary protections against further destruction.
Environmental organizations are urging Canada to expedite efforts to protect endangered caribou in British Columbia, focusing on the critical habitat mapping that has been overdue for over a decade. Despite previous commitments, logging has increased in sensitive areas, leading to serious declines in caribou populations. Advocates emphasize immediate action to combat habitat destruction and fulfill legal duties under the Species at Risk Act.
The battle for the Southern Mountain Caribou’s survival is acutely approaching a critical juncture, with environmental groups rallying for action from the Canadian government. A decade of inaction has paved the way for significant habitat destruction, underscoring the urgent need for decisive steps to ensure the recovery of these iconic creatures. Time is running short for fulfilling legal obligations and protecting the environments that sustain these vulnerable herds.
Original Source: ecojustice.ca
