New Study Links Caribou Recovery to Other Species At Risk

June 13th 2007

The Valley Sentinel, Page 0014, 13-Jun-2007
By Joshua Estabrooks

Environmental stewardship group ForestEthics recently released a report that links 21 species at risk to the same range that the mountain caribou occupy. These species include wolverine, grizzly bear, peregrine falcon, cutthroat trout and a host of rare insects. The range overlap assessment of at-risk species comes at a time when the provincial government is poised to make a major announcement on mountain caribou recovery, including a pivotal decision on how much habitat to protect.

Local environmentalist and member of the Fraser Headwaters Alliance Roy Howard said that the Robson Valley is a key piece of caribou habitat, and is pleased that this study has officially made the link between caribou and other species at risk. 'I think it is a very good report. We've known for a long time that caribou are more of an indicator species. If caribou are healthy then that whole ecosystem is healthy, which is supporting a whole bunch of these other animals and plants,' said Howard.

'Historically, caribou migrated at much lower elevations than they do now, passing through Jackman Flats just north of Valemount and even downtown Prince George. Now they are mostly restricted to the alpine or the sub alpine, right at the tree line. They come down a couple of times a year when the snow changes,' said Howard.

'Most of the caribou's habitat is located within 200 kms of Valemount and McBride, so any protection the government implements will be centered nearby. Whether or not it is going to impact us as far as having to limit snowmobiling, heli skiing or cut back on logging, not so much. Especially not the logging,' he said.

Overall Howard is pleased with the report because it effectively raises the stakes, and the need for the government to act quickly in protecting key caribou habitat. He said that the announcement was originally supposed to be made in June, but he has recently learned that it has been delayed until August.

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