British Columbia’s caribou populations are in an acute crisis, recently suffering a shocking 51 percent drop since 1991. And just this past Wednesday, we learned that ten more herds of caribou have been driven to local extinction or are functionally extirpated. Even with government recovery efforts, cause for alarm is still urgent, with new government approvals of logging endangering these precious creatures’ habitats. Approximately 5,713 hectares of forest have been proposed and approved for logging across the ranges of three of British Columbia’s most at-risk herds: Columbia North, Groundhog, and Wells Gray South.
What’s more, the Columbia North herd is on the rebound! Their ranks have increased from 147 people in 2017 to 209 people in 2023. Yet this herd’s habitat is under the most imminent threat of industrial logging at an alarming 76 percent rate. The Groundhog and Wells Gray South herds were recently documented in their return to repopulating the landscape, playing a part in recovery efforts. Their future is very much in doubt as logging continues to invade their habitats.
Habitat Disturbance and Logging Risks
As it stands now, more than 41 percent of British Columbia’s caribou habitat has already been impacted. This disruption is a result of activities including clearcut logging, mining, hydro power developments and the development of resource roads. Under the species’ federal recovery strategy, the Ottawa government has deemed a 35 percent habitat disturbance threshold acceptable to be allowed. The caribou trend is particularly shocking, with sub-populations having lost twice the amount of habitat that they have received. All of this loss happened from 2000 to 2012.
Columbia North, Groundhog, and Wells Gray South are currently the most genetically viable herds of southern range mountain caribou. Researchers say these are the three herds with the best odds of survival. They are known to occur with 58 percent of their habitat under direct threat of logging. Conservationists and local stakeholders are justifiably alarmed by this turn of events. To protect the herds, they have repeatedly stated that continued logging threatens the very existence of these herds.
“You log and disturb more and more of their habitat, you increase the extinction risk for these caribou.” – Petryshen
Our government officials realized we must find a balance between the interests of economic development and the desire to support efforts at conservation. The Ministry of Forests stated its commitment to “refine our knowledge, align shared priorities that support caribou and other objectives like mitigating wildfire risk and responsibly securing timber supply to support the economy.”
Recovery Efforts Amidst Logging Approvals
Despite the dire circumstances, recovery actions such as maternal penning and predator reduction have helped to reverse the decline in British Columbia’s caribou populations. As a result of these initiatives, over 1,500 animals have been saved across the province. While the Columbia North herd’s recent growth is a reminder that, given the right resources, effective conservation practices can take root and thrive,
Local advocates say that recently approved logging plans trump these hard-earned recovery efforts. An area even larger—over 14 times the size of Stanley Park—is scheduled to be logged or has already been approved for logging. Unfortunately, this development would occur right near important calving and summer range habitat for the Columbia North herd. Caribou scat has been found within a kilometer from the recently logged cedar trees.
“Just heartbreaking sort of scene when you when you have been working to try to recover these caribou.” – Petryshen
Petryshen emphasizes the urgency of addressing habitat loss and its impact on caribou survival. “It means the future extinction risk of these caribou herds is being decided today with those decisions on pending and approved cutting permits.”
The Future of British Columbia’s Caribou
As British Columbia continues to wrestle with the tension between economic development and environmental responsibility, the long-term survival of its caribou populations hangs in the balance. So now even logging operations that oppose approval are placing these vital habitats in jeopardy. This comes at a moment when recovery efforts are just starting to really take hold.
The Columbia North herd is particularly highlighted as a last shot for ensuring caribou survival in the Kooteney and Columbia region. Local advocates are quick to point out that without urgent action to protect these animals’ homes, the results could be catastrophic.
“Columbia North, in particular here in the Kooteney and Columbia region, is kind of our last shot at having caribou in this region for the long term.” – Petryshen
