Woodland Caribou CREDIT: Robert McCaw

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Protect Ontario’s Caribou

In Ontario and nationally, woodland caribou are classified as threatened with extinction. Ontario’s woodland caribou have lost 50% of their historic range since 1880 – a staggering 35,000 square kilometres per decade. If this rate of loss continues, scientists predict that this species may disappear from Ontario by the end of the century. Forest fragmentation and degradation, primarily caused by industrial resource extraction, are the dominant threats to the woodland caribou’s survival.

The fate of woodland caribou matters not only for the species, but for the boreal forest itself. The health of caribou populations is an indicator of overall forest health. By protecting woodland caribou, other wildlife that similarly rely on undisturbed, mature boreal forest ecosystems will also benefit.

In February 2011, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) proposed that the forestry, mining and hydro industries be exempt from requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect the threatened woodland caribou and its boreal forest habitat. This proposed exemption means that, across most of woodland caribou range, these industries will not have to seek ESA permits to operate. At Ontario Nature, we are urging the Province to withdraw the proposed exemption and require industries to go through the ESA permitting process, the purpose of which is to ensure that industry conducts its operations without jeopardizing the survival and recovery of species at risk.

MNR has divided the woodland caribou’s range into three zones. In two of those zones – the “conservation” zone and the “Far North” zone – logging, mining and hydro can continue to operate without any of those industries obtaining ESA permits that might restrict activities.

The “protection zone,” which covers prime, largely undisturbed, caribou habitat, does not include areas where logging is slated to occur in the next thirty years.

An exemption is actually bad for business

An exemption from the ESA sends a clear signal to the marketplace that industries are either unable or unwilling to meet the standards set out in legislation created to ensure the survival and recovery of species at risk. At a time when consumers are looking for products that are sustainably produced, an exemption from the ESA is bad for business. Many organizations have sustainability or green purchasing policies. Companies, such as Staples, Rona and Starbucks, have made commitments to protect our shrinking forests. Limited Brands (Victoria’s Secret) has made the protection of woodland caribou habitat an explicit requirement in its sustainable purchasing commitments.

How we can best protect caribou

Research indicates that caribou can tolerate disturbance in their range up to a certain threshold. Woodland caribou habitat must be managed so that these thresholds are not crossed. Under the ESA, the oversight needed to protect habitat and address cumulative impacts on Ontario’s woodland caribou population should be provided through permitting. 

It is important to remember that no ESA permits are required for activities that do not harm a species at risk or its habitat.

Ontario Nature is urging the government to:

• Proceed with a proposal to regulate the entire current range of caribou as habitat under the ESA, so that industrial activities are subject to ESA requirements.
• Withdraw the proposal to exempt forestry, mining and hydro from ESA requirements: instead, industry should be required to apply for ESA permits for activities that harm caribou or its habitat.

Make your voice heard!   Let MNR know that exempting industry from requirements to protect at-risk species is unacceptable. There are now two opportunities to urge the government to withdraw the exemption proposal.

1. Attend one of the community consultations:
   Toronto, March 1, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 103A, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
   Dryden, March 3, Best Western Hotel, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
   Thunder Bay, March 4, Victoria Inn, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
   Hearst, March 7, Place des Arts, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
   Cochrane, March 8, Transfiguration Church 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2. Submit comments through the EBR

To learn more about this campaign, contact:

Anne Bell
Senior Director of Conservation and Education
T: (416) 444-8418 ext. 239
e-mail: anneb@ontarionature.org

Victoria Foote
Director of Communications
T: (416) 444-8419 ext. 238
e-mail: victoriaf@ontarionature.org

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