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News Release - Manitoba

October 15, 2015

Province Releases 10-year Boreal Woodland Caribou Recovery Strategy



The Manitoba government has developed a 10-year Boreal Woodland Caribou Recovery Strategy to create an environment where these herds can thrive within the province’s boreal forest, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff announced today.

“This comprehensive strategy will help government make decisions that balance the demand for boreal forest resource use with caribou conservation,” Minister Nevakshonoff said.  “As we move forward, we will have input from Indigenous people, industry, non-government organizations and other Manitobans.”

The two key goals of the Boreal Woodland Caribou Strategy are to maintain self-sustaining local populations of boreal caribou and ensure the effective management and protection of their habitat, the minister said.  Boreal caribou were listed as threatened in Manitoba in 2006 under the Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act and can be affected by a variety of factors including:
• habitat destruction or alteration from forest fires or forest harvesting;
• habitat fragmentation from roads, trails and other corridors, logging operations or mineral exploration;
• increased access for predators;
• over-hunting; and
• disease.

“The strategy’s objective of protecting large areas of habitat is what caribou need to survive and thrive,” said Ron Thiessen, executive director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s Manitoba chapter.  “In fact, it’s what we all need, as Manitoba’s boreal forest is an essential part of the world’s largest source of unfrozen fresh water, the northern lungs of the planet and Earth’s largest carbon storehouse, which helps curb global climate change.”

Many pieces of valuable input have been incorporated since the release of the draft strategy, Minister Nevakshonoff said, adding that by working closely with all partners, the province hopes to carefully protect both the caribou’s environment and the provincial economy.

“Tolko Industries is committed to responsible and environmentally sustainable management of our forest resources,” said Bob Fleet, vice-president, forestry and environment, Tolko Industries Ltd. “Caribou habitat planning is integral to our operations across the four western provinces and this strategy will help guide us in our operations.”

For a copy of the Boreal Woodland Caribou Strategy, visit:
www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/sar/fs/wlcaribou.

This strategy supports TomorrowNow – Manitoba’s Green Plan, an eight-year plan that supports environmental protection while ensuring a prosperous and environmentally conscious economy.

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