Protecting Woodland Caribou

Canopy is actively working to protect one of Canada's most iconic species, the boreal woodland caribou.

Facts about Woodland Caribou

-Boreal Woodland Caribou are listed as “threatened” under the federal Species at Risk Act.

-Boreal Woodland caribou are a focal species, in that by virtue of their sensitivity to human development, taking appropriate care of their needs will provide for the conservation of many other less visible boreal species.

-There are different "ecotypes" of caribou, including boreal caribou, migratory tundra caribou and mountain caribou. Boreal caribou are found across Canada's Boreal Forest.

-They are extremely susceptible to habitat disturbance and loss. Logging, oil and gas development and other human disturbances are primary drivers behind the loss of caribou range across Canada.

-When habitats are lost, altered or fragmented by industrial activities, predators such as wolves and bears tend to proliferate and prey on and can more easily hunt the caribou(especially the calves), which can quickly decrease caribou populations.

-Of the 57 designated woodland caribou populations in Canada, 40 have a 50% chance or less of surviving the next 100 years.

-Woodland Caribou have already been forced from 50% of their historic range (territory) within Canada.

What Canopy is doing

With critical caribou habitat continuing to be logged for paper production, Canopy is:

• engaging major paper customers to help protect this charismatic species of the North and;
• bringing this critical issue into the public realm.
  

Also, In the Save the 'Bou campaign, Canopy, along with the David Suzuki Foundation, Forest Ethics and Greenpeace, is working to:

• Protect large tracts of intact forests that form critical caribou habitat across Canada;
• Establish a comprehensive network of habitat corridors to complement these protected areas; and
• Ensure sustainable management on the remaining land base.

Visit the Save the 'Bou Facebook page