A Mountain Caribou Strategy for British Columbia

Abstract

Because of the declining population of mountain caribou in British Columbia and the increasing conflict between caribou management and timber harvesting, BC Environment recently has developed a new policy for mountain caribou management in the province. Three options were considered; 1) to manage habitats/populations to potential habitat suitability, 2) to manage habitats/populations to ensure that at least present levels are maintained and 3) to manage habitats/populations within a core area of the province only. The chosen strategy of managing habitats/populations to ensure that at least present levels are maintained is consistent with ministry goals and policies and will likely require that a network of protected areas, buffer areas and linking corridors be established. Initiatives to document existing mountain caribou distribution and to provide options for integrated caribou/timber solutions to management conflicts are ongoing. Successful implementation of this caribou management strategy will require the active participation of the Ministry of Forests since the protection of habitat is a shared responsibility.