Terry Abel: Industry, government and environmentalists must co-operate to save boreal caribou from further decline
Credit to Author: Gordon Clark| Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2019 15:00:28 +0000
Canada is known for many things, but it is our country’s wildlife like the boreal caribou that we are most often recognized. These beautiful and majestic symbols of national pride populate our vast boreal forest from one end of the country to the other.
But caribou populations are at risk. Their numbers are depleting.
It is up to all of us — industries, governments and environmental groups — to save the boreal caribou from declining further. This isn’t an issue of economy versus environment, it is about everyone working together for the common good.
One of the Canadian oil and natural gas industry’s priorities is to help find solutions to protect and recover the Boreal caribou.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers was heartened by the publication of, Room for Both, a report co-authored by the David Suzuki Foundation, Alberta Wilderness Association and Ontario Nature. CAPP agrees there is room for both: a sustainable economic future for Canadians and the preservation of a healthy caribou population.
Through a series of voluntary measures, the oil and natural gas industry has been working to help recover caribou. For CAPP, the best path to success is through the inclusive and co-ordinated efforts of all land users. We have, and continue to work with, provincial and federal governments and other stakeholders on caribou recovery plans and actions.
Canada’s oil and natural gas industry is taking a working landscape approach, which includes collaborating with land users to strategically plan development to reduce industry’s overall footprint, and voluntarily deferring activities while restoration takes place.
It’s good to know a group like the David Suzuki Foundation is talking about caribou recovery and publishing reports like Room for Both. It helps bolster the efforts Canada’s upstream oil and natural gas industry is already taking. Since 2012, industry has invested nearly $10 million in British Columbia to advance caribou recovery, habitat restoration, maternity penning and collaring to better understand population numbers.
Energy producers have collaborated on the restoration of more than 1,200 kilometres of seismic lines in northeastern Alberta, which is helping to restore caribou habitat to boost populations. Industry is reducing its footprint on the landscape and continuing its research on caribou ecology and landscape relationships, caribou predator exclosure fences, and wildlife response to restoration efforts.
CAPP applauds the B.C. government for bringing forward a Section 11 agreement with the federal government, Indigenous communities, local governments and industry to develop caribou management plans for the Southern Mountain caribou.
CAPP also supports B.C.’s efforts to advance recommendations for Southern Mountain caribou recovery in the Peace Region. The province’s collaboration with the federal government, the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations and local communities for the temporary protection of important caribou habitat while a long-term plan is developed is a shining example of a precautionary and adaptive management approach.
There is a path forward. We can help save the boreal and Southern Mountain caribou and ensure a strong economic future for all Canadians with sustainable oil and natural gas development.
Suzuki was right when he said in his June opinion editorial in the Georgia Straight that caribou and industry can co-exist. Industry is trying to do all it can, and will continually seek improvement. It is one of our biggest priorities and something we’ve focused on for a long time.
Let’s all work together to protect caribou and ensure a long and sustainable future for one of Canada’s most recognized national treasures.
Terry Abel is executive vice-president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
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