Letter of support for Kaska Dena's proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area
Dene K’éh Kusān IPCA would protect northern mountain caribou habitat
The Kaska Dena has proposed a large Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) that would protect vital northern mountain caribou habitat. The Wilderness Committee offers our gratitude to the Kaska Dene for their leadership and proactive approach to protecting caribou in the North.
The Wilderness Committee is calling on the provincial and federal governments to collaborate with Kaska Dene on the creation of the Dene K’éh Kusān IPCA. The area would protect 40,000 square kilometres of Kaska Dena territory — an area larger than the entire lower mainland of B.C.
The proposal would help protect a significant portion of seven northern mountain caribou ranges and in some cases the whole range, from resource extraction or other major disturbances. Northern mountain caribou are listed as special concern under the federal species at risk act (SARA).
Both the federal and provincial governments have responsibilities under the SARA, including the responsibility to prevent species of special concern from becoming threatened or endangered. This IPCA presents a perfect opportunity to be proactive when it comes to species conservation and help populations rebound while they’re still healthy enough to do so without invasive and drastic recovery actions.
Protecting the habitat for Northern caribou herds today will protect their populations from crashing as they have for southern mountain caribou. Delaying action on protecting species at risk not only makes it more difficult to recover them, but also much more expensive and resource intensive.
The Wilderness Committee is hopeful that both levels of government will see the call for the Dene K’éh Kusān IPCA as an incredible way to protect northern caribou herds, while also putting words into action to uphold the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
More like this
- Southern mountain caribou - New logging road network shows BC is failing at-risk species and habitats
- West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations IPCA - Agreement signed to set aside land for Caribou in B.C. Peace
Fancy meeting you here at the end of this article! Care to hang out together for a few more sentences?
The campaign you just read about is one of about 20 we’re actively working on at any given time. And the person who wrote this article is the same campaigner who’s asking you to take action, who’s calling on our legislators to make changes and who’s in the field to bring you photos, videos and stories documenting this issue.
Did you notice how we’re a bit distinct, that we’re not afraid to call out the industries or governments that threaten what’s wild? Unlike other groups, we’re almost 100 per cent* “people powered.” Individuals like you who care give what they can, when they can. No corporate or government funding restricts our strategies, our actions or our voice. That’s how we stay a lean, nimble and unequivocally relentless voice for wilderness, wildlife and the climate. That’s why we’d love it if you’d consider joining us by making a monthly donation to the Wilderness Committee today.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
We’ve already established you like to read to the end, so here’s the fine print. It’s 96 per cent of our funding which comes from individuals like you and me. About four per cent of our total funding comes from a few grants from foundations. Every gift — no matter the size — has an impact and powers our work for nature.
