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.
Highlights
Because o f the declining population o f mountain caribou i n British Columbia and the increasing conflict betw e e n caribou management and timber harvesting, BCEnvironment recently has developed a n e w policy for mountain caribou management i n the province
In 1988, the Mountain Caribou in Managed Forests ( M C M F ) Program was initiated within the Prince George area by the Wildlife Branch o f B C Environment, the Ministry of Forests and the local Forest industry to address the issue of the potential conflict between mountain caribou and forest management
In the interim the B C Environment component o f this committee has met and continued to w o r k on three main themes as follows: 1. Development of a management "strategy" for mountain caribou in British Columbia Mountain caribou is classified as being "at risk" i n British Columbia, (Harper et al, 1994) and a clear management policy statement from B C Environment was needed to help prevent this ecotype of woodland caribou from becoming "threatened" or "endangered" in the province
Summary
Because o f the declining population o f mountain caribou i n British Columbia and the increasing conflict betw e e n caribou management and timber harvesting, BCEnvironment recently has developed a n e w policy for mountain caribou management i n the province. Development of a management "strategy" for mountain caribou in British Columbia Mountain caribou is classified as being "at risk" i n British Columbia, (Harper et al, 1994) and a clear management policy statement from B C Environment was needed to help prevent this ecotype of woodland caribou from becoming "threatened" or "endangered" in the province.
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