Category:Caribou

It is estimated that 20,000 woodland caribou remain in Ontario, of which approximately one-quarter inhabit the boreal forest and are described as the “forest-dwelling” population which is a species at risk. Although MNR speculates that about 3,000 forest-dwelling woodland caribou remain in the area set aside for commercial forestry (i.e., south of roughly 51°N), only crude estimates of woodland caribou numbers in Ontario are publicly available. The majority of Ontario’s woodland caribou are part of the “forest-tundra” population; this population is under assessment by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) to determine if it too should be identified as at-risk.

Beyond the articles from the ECO's reports listed below, the ECO also has several staff reports available on forest-dwelling population of woodland caribou:

An Examination of Recovery Planning for Forest-dwelling Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Ontario, Canada

Abstract: Ontario's population of forest-dwelling woodland caribou is listed both federally and provincially as a species at risk. It is estimated that 20 000 woodland caribou remain in Ontario, of which approximately one quarter inhabit the boreal forest and are described as the sedentary forest-dwelling population. This paper examines the recovery strategy for this population developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as discussing the implications of provincial forestry policy on woodland caribou management. Commercial timber harvesting will likely soon be allowed in parts of the northern third of the province, in which woodland caribou habitat currently is relatively unimpaired by industrial development.

An Analysis of Government Actions for the Protection and Recovery of Forest-dwelling Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Ontario, Canada

Abstract: The Government of Ontario has legal responsibilities to protect and recover the province's population of forest-dwelling woodland caribou, which is classified as a threatened species. Loss and fragmentation of habitat caused by commercial timber harvesting, land clearing, and linear disturbances such as road building have resulted in range recession. Ontario's Woodland Caribou Conservation Plan (2009) serves as the provincial government's response to a recovery strategy. This paper contends that the likelihood of success for this conservation plan is low as it focuses on mitigating rather than eliminating threats, relies on the unproven and circumspect hypothesis that woodland caribou will re-occupy logged habitat, and lacks clarity and details on implementation. Sound government action focused on protection and recovery is needed to prevent the imperilment and extirpation of this species at risk.