Governments of Canada and British Columbia collaborate on Southern Mountain Caribou recovery

OTTAWA, Oct. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - The protection of wildlife species is a joint responsibility and all Canadians have a role to play. Plants, animals and microorganisms are essential to the natural processes that keep the Earth's atmosphere, climate, landscape and water in balance. They help ensure our health and economic prosperity—now and for the future.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, and British Columbia's Minister of Environment, Mary Polak, announced today a joint study to review the regulations in place for the protection of Southern Mountain Caribou and their habitat.

The purpose of this study is to inform a critical habitat protection assessment under the Species at Risk Act to determine what additional steps may need to be taken by federal or provincial governments to protect and recover Southern Mountain Caribou.

The study is being conducted as part of the collaboration between Canada and British Columbia under the Canada-British Columbia Bilateral Agreement on Species at Risk.

Quotes

"By working together, we can protect this iconic species for future generations of Canadians, including for traditional use by Indigenous peoples."
– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"By working together on the study we can help ensure any new protection measures the federal government might consider takes into account the extensive work already happening in British Columbia. This includes protecting more than two million hectares of mountain caribou habitat from logging and road building."
– Mary Polak, British Columbia's Minister of Environment

Related product

Southern Mountain Caribou protection assessment (backgrounder)

Associated link

Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain population (species profile)

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)