Protect the boreal caribou! | David Suzuki Foundation

Photo credit: Mike Jones via Flickr.

The boreal caribou are in serious trouble. As industrial operations like oil and gas extraction and timber harvesting activities expand and move farther north, they are fragmenting caribou habitat and driving the animals towards extinction.

The federal government’s new draft caribou recovery strategy is, on many fronts, a huge disappointment. Instead of protecting habitat, the government wants to allow business as usual in places like Alberta’s tarsands, “stabilizing” herd populations by killing predators like wolves while allowing for further habitat destruction.

While we continue to work with forestry companies through the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement to ensure caribou survival and forest sector competitiveness, we want the feds need to know that Canadians won't stand for such a weak Strategy.

It's not too late to let them know what you think of the plan. Until February 22nd, 2012, they’re accepting comments on their recovery strategy. We’re telling them that we want a strong recovery plan based on sound science rather than politics.

Tell the government you care about caribou by sending the email below.

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To:

Environment Canada’s Recovery Strategy team - <RecoveryPlanning_Pl@ec.gc.ca>

Cc:

Environment Minister Kent - <Peter.Kent@ec.gc.ca>

Subject:

Body:

Dear Caribou Recovery Strategy team:

We all recognize that Canada’s woodland caribou are in trouble. These shy, iconic creatures are clearly teetering towards extinction as industrial operations expand and creep ever further northward.

Unfortunately, the federal government’s recently released draft recovery strategy for boreal woodland caribou is inadequate.

Instead of protecting caribou by safeguarding the habitat they need to recover, the plan allows business as usual in places like Alberta’s tarsands, while merely attempting to “stabilize” the size of certain herds through controversial management methods like killing wolves.

I am not satisfied that stabilizing herds by killing other important wildlife while allowing for continued habitat destruction meets the goal of recovering this imperiled species.

The federal government needs to recognize that a proper recovery strategy for a species should be based on sound science, not politics and industrial interests.

The recovery strategy should be strengthened to ensure that all populations are recovered by protecting their critical habitat.

The caribou deserve better; they deserve to survive and recover. Please don’t let Canada’s caribou disappear forever.

I look forward to hearing more about this important issue.

Thank you for your consideration.

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