Woodland caribou are found in almost every province and territory in Canada. They are an ecologically, socially, economically, and culturally significant species. Check out any 25 cent coin and you’ll see a woodland caribou smiling back at you!
In Alberta, we are lucky to have two ecotypes of Woodland caribou, boreal and mountain, they are still the same species but are different in appearance and habitat.
Woodland Caribou:
a Species-at-Risk
Decades of intense disturbance in throughout and near caribou habitat has driven their numbers dangerously low. This is an indicator that it is not just caribou at risk but the overall biodiversity of their habitat (like the boreal forest) is in decline.
The boreal forest, where boreal woodland caribou reside, faces the effects of compounding industrial developments which includes forestry, oil and gas exploration and development, built roads and more.
Experts have concluded that no caribou herds in Alberta are able to naturally sustain themselves, which means that we will lose caribou on the landscape if we do not act fast.
Some herds have experienced over 80% reduction in their population size.
The long-term solution to saving declining caribou herds is conservation of caribou habitat through habitat protection and habitat restoration. An intact boreal forest makes sure caribou have enough to room to safely move, feed, breed, and raise calves.
Caribou Habitat
Caribou have very unique habitat requirements: they need large pieces of intact and connected forest, with a special focus on old mature forests and lush wetlands. Why mature forests? Here, they can successfully hide from predators and eat loads of their favourite food: lichens! When caribou populations are healthy in Alberta, it tells us that so are Alberta's forests.
Rapid industrial expansion has completely changed the landscape for caribou. The mosaic of industries that exist in Alberta and occur within and proximity to caribou habitat leaves very few safe places left for the species at risk. Caribou ranges are highly disturbed - many are considered over 90% disturbed.
Take Action
Protect Our Caribou
There is still time to stabilize and recover caribou populations. With a strong focus on protecting and restoring intact caribou habitat, there can be a thriving future for this treasured species.
Drivers of Caribou Population Decline
Every single one of the 15 woodland caribou herds on provincial lands in Alberta have been heavily impacted by industrial and natural disturbances. It can be hard to fathom how much of the boreal forest has been altered by human activities. Why is this of such large concern? This translates to large amounts of habitat loss and fragmentation while the landscape is forever changed.
Maps of Caribou Habitat Loss
Government Action for Caribou
2003
Boreal woodland caribou were listed as Threatened under Canada’s Species At Risk Act (SARA) in 2003.
2011
The Government of Alberta releases the Alberta Woodland Caribou Policy.
2012
The Federal Recovery Strategy for boreal woodland caribou was released and outlined the recovery targets for all caribou ranges across the country with a goal of ensuring 65% of caribou ranges were "undisturbed". This is no small feat, with some caribou ranges in Alberta currently more than 90% disturbed.
2017
The Government of Alberta releasea the Draft Provincial Woodland Caribou Range Plan for the 15 woodland caribou herds under provincial jurisdiction. The draft plan built on the 2011 Alberta Woodland Caribou Policy. The Draft Plan outlined a few lacklustre management options and evaluated the baseline levels of disturbance in each caribou range. This draft range plan was never finalized.
2018
The Federal Government releases its first report on critical habitat protection, a requirement under the Species at Risk Act.
2020
The federal and provincial governments signed a Conservation Agreement for the recovery of woodland caribou in Alberta on October 23, 2020. The Agreement, carried out under Section 11 of the Species At Risk Act (SARA), commits Alberta to a framework for completing range plans, which are key to long-term recovery planning for caribou, and commits Canada to important funding support to see these recovery actions implemented.
2021
The Government of Alberta releases two draft plans for caribou recovery in the northeast and northwest of the province, encompassing two herds of Threatened woodland caribou: the Cold Lake Sub-Regional Plan and the Bistcho Sub-regional Plan.
The plans are now finalized here and here.
2023
The Canadian government formally announces their commitment to recover and repopulate woodland caribou herds in Jasper National Park through a conservation breeding program.
2025
The draft Upper Smoky sub-regional plan is released in the spring of 2025 and finalized later that year, and the draft South Athabasca sub-regional plan is released late 2025.
Alberta continues to develop range plans across the province, though far beyond the due date set out in SARA. It is important that range plans focus on habitat-based measures. Without long-term habitat-based solutions, it is short-sighted to rely solely on predator control, alternate prey control, penning, or breeding programs.
CPAWS Action for Alberta's Caribou
The CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter champions the protection of caribou habitat in all land use decision while holding governments accountable for the implementation of species recovery plans. The chapter amplifies opportunities for the public to participate in engagement sessions that will impact caribou habitat.
We focus on four key actions:
Ensure at least 50% of the Boreal forest is protected from industrial use and includes critical habitat for woodland caribou
Negotiate with forestry companies and other industry partners to protect more caribou habitat from industrial disturbance and responsibly manage within caribou ranges.
Ensure restoration of disturbed caribou habitat so it can become suitable caribou habitat in the future.
Ensure caribou recovery plans prioritize involvement from Indigenous communities
On-the-ground progress
In the summer of 2021, trappers alerted CPAWS to plans by West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Hinton) to log roughly 2,660 hectares of timber within the next two years in the area surrounding Moon Creek, right up to the boundary of the Willmore Wilderness Park. Immediately, alarm bells started ringing for the trappers. This would have been a significant harvest in a uniquely intact old-growth forest—a rarity for any caribou range in Alberta. A CPAWS Northern Alberta analysis showed it would remove 934 hectares of currently undisturbed caribou habitat. Over 900 letters were sent to West Fraser and the Government of Alberta, urging them to pause logging plans in the area.
In 2022, the area was listed as a no-harvest zone.
Photo generously donated by John E. Marriott.
Caribou Range Planning
In 2016, CPAWS Northern Alberta released three reports illustrating on-the-ground status of and threats to Alberta’s boreal woodland caribou. The reports are the first of their kind in Alberta – the first publicly available, science-based assessment that illustrates where in Alberta’s boreal forest conservation efforts, legislated protection, and immediate forest restoration need to occur in order to bring Alberta’s caribou back from the brink.
Read and download the three volumes of guides produced by CPAWS Northern Alberta.
Take Action
Protect Our Caribou
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Move conservation forward in Alberta.
Lasting protection for nature and wildlife in Alberta doesn’t happen overnight (although we wish it did)! Your donation fuels our fight for nature. Donate to support CPAWS Northern Alberta’s conservation efforts.