It was a spirited affair last night (April 9) at the Civic Centre during the caribou public engagement meeting in Prince George.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, a draft section 11 agreement between British Columbia and Canada intends to set a framework for co-operation between the two governments to recover the endangered southern mountain caribou.
The draft agreement between B.C., Canada, West Moberly, and Saulteau First Nations proposes specific habitat protection and restoration measures to recover the central group herds of southern mountain caribou.
There are two components to the plan: the Section 11 Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, which are not the same things.
The draft Section 11 Agreement is a bilateral agreement between Canada and British Columbia. This portion applies to 21 local population units of southern mountain caribou (which includes northern, central as well as southern groups) in the province. The goal is to set a framework for co-operation between the two governments to recover the endangered southern mountain caribou.
The Caribou public session is underway in @CityofPG. It’s scheduled to go until 9:30. There’s standing room only essentially. Packed house. The photo is only half of the room #caribou #cairbouagreement #bc #wildlife #govbc @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/uhWNnWZqpJ
— Jess Fedigan (@jj_fedigan) April 10, 2019
The draft Partnership Agreement is between Canada, British Columbia, West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations. This portion applies to only three local population units in B.C. This is a proposal to specific habitat protection and restoration measures to recover the central group herds of southern mountain caribou.
One of the main issues is that snowmobile trails and access to the backcountry would be closed in B.C., which the government says is not true.
"The province understands that outdoor recreation is an important part of community identity and services as an opportunity to diversify resource-based economies," an information release reads. "However, recreational snowmobile use can pose a risk of displacing caribou which may discourage caribou from accessing their preferred habitats and may affect their fat resources or exposure to predation."
"There's a lot of recreation in those areas. A lot of people rely on moose as well," it adds. "Moose hunting is very important to folks in the community here I know and Indigenous communities. We can't just go forth and manage one population, we've got to manage all of them."
In the South Peace, for example, there were about 800 animals in the early 2000s down to just 220 animals now.
Panellist Dave Muter said at the Prince George public session that recreation can cause caribou to move out.
"What can happen is, take ski-dooing through high elevation habitat," he says. "This can cause caribou to be displaced from their preferred habitat. This increases travel distance to avoid the disturbance, it impedes their free movement. It's another calorie that the caribou has to spend getting away from something. It's a calorie that they don't actually have available to run away from a wolf preying up them with calories they need to survive and raise calves. I would like to enforce that this is not a simple resolution. If it was, we would have it installed by now and we're looking for thoughts, ideas and feedback."
.@BCGovNews and Federal Gov representatives also in attendance tonight for Carivou recovery and partnership agreement session in @CityofPG #cityofpg #govbc #caribou #wildlife #northernbc #bc #animals @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/tNAZm95zcC
— Jess Fedigan (@jj_fedigan) April 10, 2019
Other proposed habitat recovery and restoration measures being proposed are:
- Habitat mitigation and offsetting
- Motor vehicle management
- Indigenous guardian program
- Maternity penning
- Predator management
When it came to questions from Prince George residents, they didn't hold back.
One of the first and biggest topics to be brought up by people in attendance was the spraying of plants and trees with herbicide.
"You're not going to help the caribou at all until you quit your spraying," one resident says, which also drew thunderous applause. "You're not going to help anything if you keep doing that."
Panellists, which included federal, provincial, and Indigenous representation, seemed to avoid the question and tried to have an explanation for the spraying, but no full answer was given.
Another man mentioned that most people in attendance for the community meeting have done their research and are well aware of what the situation involving the caribou is.
"I'm not sure what kind of crowd you think you have in front of you," he says. "But I can assure you there is a great number of people here in this room that have read pretty much all of the research that has been published on the subject. A lot of people are pretty well informed too what the research has shown. One of the consistent items that the research has shown is ever since the late 1960s and early 70s, is that one of the major issues for the caribou is that by the end of the summer and early fall, all of the calves are gone, predated by wolves, black bears, and bears."
The man explained to the panel that he understands the issue is complex and there are multiple stages, but thinks way more needs to be done.
"Why is all of this discussion, is there virtually nothing being said about wolf control and bear control?" he says. "It doesn't seem to be a big issue in these plans or maybe I missed something when you talked about it."
Muter responded to the question by saying there are plans in the agreement and that they also currently already have a system in place.
"Wolf population control, it does work," Muter says. "It does help and encourage caribou population here. We have been doing predator control and we know it has been effective."
Multiple people in attendance brought up the issue of limits being imposed on outdoor activities in the backcountry, as well as hunting, something which the panel said:
"Just to clarify, when we said no closures, that was in section 11," panellist Russ Laroche says. "I know it's confusing because we're bringing two things at once here, so the section 11 is province-wide. When we brought up the partnership, there is no backcountry closures but there are restrictions and snowmobiles are one that we're looking at."
If you are not able to attend the sessions, you can also fill out a feedback form online until May 2, 2019, at 4.p.m.
- with files from Hanna Petersen, Prince George Matters
