When the protection of a threatened species depends on the economy of a foreign nation

Abstract

A significant challenge of conservation biology is to preserve species in places where their critical habitat also attracts significant economic interest. The problem is compounded when species distributions occur across large spatial extents. Threatened boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) epitomize this problem: their critical habitat encompasses a vast expanse of forest that also supplies much of Canada's merchantable timber. Boreal caribou were protected under the Canada Species at Risk Act in 2003. We investigated putative drivers of reduced disturbance for caribou habitat since then. Where the cumulative logging footprint slowed within caribou habitat, this has resulted neither from decreases in annual allowable cut of timber nor the creation or expansion of protected areas. Rather, it has fluctuated with the American economy relative to that of Canada. For each $0.05 US lost over the $CAD, 129 km 2 of caribou habitat was not disturbed by logging in a given year. Recent population declines have been occurring even though logging typically remained at <70% of allowed levels. Our study raises concerns about how caribou are functionally being conserved under the current application of existing legislation. In this globalized world, the economy of foreign nations is increasingly likely to govern national conservation objectives.

A Burning Question: What are the Implications of Forest Fires for Woodland Caribou?

“…There is increasing evidence that human habitat‐alteration is the primary influence of caribou declines (Apps et al 2013, Rudolph et al 2017, Serrouya et al 2021), and that fire plays a relatively small demographic role in many population ranges (Johnson et al 2020, Stewart et al 2020). Human alteration of caribou habitat is high in several of the Alberta ranges included in this study (ABMI 2020, Fortin et al 2020, Serrouya et al 2020, Stewart et al 2020), with potential for cumulative disturbance effects (Tattersall et al 2020); we recommend considering the prevalence of human habitat‐alteration in this region when interpreting our results. The accessibility and accuracy of time‐stamped historical human footprint data is growing rapidly with improvements in geographic information system software.…”

The long road to protecting critical habitat for species at risk: The case of southern mountain woodland caribou

“…These areas reflect increases of 49% and 57%, respectively, in the area logged within high/ low elevation and matrix ranges compared to the 5 years before critical habitat identification (Figure 2). The increase in critical habitat area logged from 2009 to 2018 mirrored observed increases in manufactured forest product sales and forest exports throughout the BC forestry industry during the same period following the 2008-2009 economic recession (Fortin et al, 2020;Ministry of Forests, Lands Operations, 2019). These numbers show that critical habitat identification has not prevented timber harvest within critical habitat.…”

“…For species whose ranges overlap with economically valuable natural resources, identification and subsequent protection of critical habitat are often contentious (Fortin, Mcloughlin, & Hebblewhite, 2020). Westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) in Alberta (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, 2016), southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia (BC; Government of Canada, 2018c) and northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Oregon and Washington (Proctor & Pincetl, 1996) are examples of species whose critical habitat identification or protection was complicated in part because their ranges overlap economically valuable natural resources.…”

Existing caribou habitat and demographic models need improvement for Ring of Fire impact assessment: A roadmap for improving the usefulness, transparency, and availability of models for conservation

“…Decisions about natural resource development should be informed by sound environmental impact assessment (Fortin et al, 2020; Hebblewhite, 2017; Johnson et al, 2019; Johnson and St. Laurent, 2011). Increasingly, these assessments mandate quantitative appraisals of cumulative effects (e.g.…”

“…Boreal woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ; hereafter ‘boreal caribou’) inhabit large portions of Canada’s boreal forest (ECCC, 2011; Festa-Bianchet et al, 2011), where anthropogenic disturbance from the natural resource sector threatens population persistence (Fortin et al, 2020; Fryxell et al, 2020; Hebblewhite, 2017; Johnson et al, 2020). Nationally, only 29% of population ranges are considered self-sustaining and boreal caribou are listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act.…”