Young woodland caribou thanks researchers, begs government to act

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Researchers thanked with cookies, government slammed over inaction

A toddler caribou from Manitoba showed up to pass out caribou-shaped cookies at the North American Caribou Workshop today, as a thank-you to researchers for their efforts to preserve caribou, but also to deliver a stronger message to the Manitoba government that action to help caribou must be taken now.

Scientists have been presenting their research on woodland caribou and barren ground caribou over the past several days.

“The research being presented at this conference is important,” said Eric Reder, Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee. “But the Manitoba government already knows some of the steps they need to take for the survival of woodland caribou.”

Conservation Minister Blaikie commented earlier this week that the government is looking for recommendations coming from this workshop, however the government has ignored scientific recommendations they’ve been presented over the last several years.

“Presenters at this workshop referenced and re-enforced research that show caribou can't make long-term use of logging areas, the very same research that we placed directly on the Conservation Minister's desk two years ago,” said Reder.

“Woodland caribou researchers from Quebec gave extirpation dates for caribou in certain forests: sometime in the next twenty years. Researchers from Alberta said that in some caribou ranges, even if the 'business as usual' operations in forests stop—meaning no more fragmentation and habitat loss—caribou will still disappear without massive efforts to protect the remaining caribou from predators. Yet somehow, even though caribou are experiencing similar habitat loss and fragmentation in Manitoba, the provincial government says caribou are doing just fine here.”

The Wilderness Committee continues to call for the Manitoba government to place a moratorium on all industrial activity in caribou ranges until a proper census of the animals is done, and then limit the cumulative development and linear disturbances in all ranges.

“When today's toddlers reach the age where they will be doing university research, caribou could be gone from the forest they live in now,” continued Reder. “To governments, especially the Manitoba government, we say keep caribou in our world. End destructive actions in caribou habitat. The next generations will thank you.”

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For more information contact Eric Reder, (204) 997-8584