Province says no logging in 'critical' habitat — but definition of this varies

A famed B.C. painter and naturalist is among those calling on the province to stop issuing logging permits in the habitat of critically endangered mountain caribou.

Robert Bateman joined representatives from several environmental groups Monday at his Victoria gallery to make the demand. He believes habitat loss is the biggest threat to endangered herds.

"I've seen so many things that have disappeared or become scarce," Bateman, 88, told All Points West host Robyn Burns. "I think there are a lot of precious things that are disappearing before our eyes and they don't need to.

"It's quite simple: we need to stop logging. We need to stop wrecking their habitat… If you take away where they live and you take away what they eat, it's game over.

Wilderness Committee, one of the advocacy groups joining Bateman on Monday, said in a statement that the province has authorized logging in 83 areas of "critical" habitat for eight of the most imperiled southern mountain caribou populations.

Without intact forests, the group said, B.C.'s mountain caribou will continue to disappear and it wants a moratorium of development in the animals' habitat.

Bleak future

In recent years, scientists have painted a bleak picture about the future of Western Canada's mountain caribou.

Ten herds are believed to be under "imminent threat" of disappearing. One, the South Selkirk herd, is down to three females — none of them pregnant — as of summer 2018.

Logging and drilling activites in B.C.'s hinterland are cited as a threat to the animals because they destroy forest habitat. Roadbuilding in wilderness areas is also a threat because it allows wolves to travel easier in their hunting efforts.

Efforts have been taken to restore the populations, including "maternal pens" where mother caribou can birth and raise their calves safe from predators during the critical early days of life. The pens have had mixed results.

A controversial wolf cull has also been tried as a way to reduce the number of predators hunting the endangered ungulates.

Government defends response

In a statement, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Forests said no logging tenures have been issued inside of B.C.'s critical caribou habitat, but acknowledged there is a difference between what the federal and provincial governments define as critical habitat.

The spokesperson said 2.2 million hectares in B.C. is protected mountain caribou habitat where logging is not allowed.

The spokesperson added that $27 million over three years is to be spent on caribou recovery. Each of B.C.'s 54 herds has a draft management plan completed, but further work is required. Some of that work will continue this fall and involve First Nations.

The province added it is working with the federal government on issues of mountain caribou protection.

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