In Ontario and nationally, boreal caribou are classified as threatened. The boreal caribou is also considered an umbrella species. This means protecting their habitat benefits a wide range of other plants and animals that rely on boreal forest ecosystems.
Science shows caribou need vast tracts of old conifer forest to avoid predators. But forest fragmentation — primarily caused by resource extraction and associated access roads and corridors, as well as natural disturbances such as fire — remains a key threat to the boreal caribou’s survival in managed forests.
Despite this, forestry lobbyists have sowed seeds of doubt, resulting in stalled recovery ...
In Ontario and nationally, boreal caribou are classified as threatened. The boreal caribou is also considered an umbrella species. This means protecting their habitat benefits a wide range of other plants and animals that rely on boreal forest ecosystems.
Science shows caribou need vast tracts of old conifer forest to avoid predators. But forest fragmentation — primarily caused by resource extraction and associated access roads and corridors, as well as natural disturbances such as fire — remains a key threat to the boreal caribou’s survival in managed forests.
Despite this, forestry lobbyists have sowed seeds of doubt, resulting in stalled recovery measures. Their playbook is clear. They:
Read the peer-reviewed journal article "From climate to caribou: How manufactured uncertainty is affecting wildlife management".
Please take a moment to tell the Government of Canada that these myths must be dispelled, and action must be taken with provinces to plan for caribou recovery and sustainable prosperity. Your voice matters.
Photo: Boreal caribou © martYmage