Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service is developing a national recovery strategy for the woodland caribou, boreal population (hereafter referred to as boreal caribou). The purpose of this brief is to inform you of the process for preparing this strategy and to determine your interest in participating.

Woodland Caribou Consultations - Stakeholder Workshops:

• Toronto – Monday March 8, 2010 at the Ramada Plaza
• Thunder Bay – Friday March 12, 2010 at the Victoria Inn
• Dryden – Tuesday March 23, 2010 at the Holiday Inn
• Timmins – Thursday March 25, 2010 at the Days Inn

Please note: For the Toronto and Thunder Bay locations please register by Wednesday March 3, 2010. For the Dryden and Timmins locations please register by Wednesday March 17, 2010.

National Recovery Strategy Preparation The boreal caribou was listed under the federal Species at Risk Act as Threatened in 2003. The Species at Risk Act requires that a recovery strategy be completed for all threatened species, including boreal caribou. The national recovery strategy for boreal caribou will complement and enhance conservation and protection efforts by provincial and territorial governments.

Recovery strategies are planning documents that identify what needs to be done to stop or reverse the decline of a species. The national recovery strategy for boreal caribou will set out national objectives and describe the research and management activities that are needed to help recover the boreal caribou. The national recovery strategy will also identify critical habitat for boreal caribou to the extent possible. Once critical habitat is identified, the federal, provincial, or territorial government must put in place measures to protect critical habitat from destruction.

Development of the national recovery strategy for boreal caribou will occur through a multi-stage process:

(1) Inform provinces, territories, Aboriginal people, and stakeholders of the consultation process. Give interested parties the opportunity to voice their opinions and provide input on key elements to develop the national recovery strategy including: threats to boreal caribou and its habitat, population and distribution objectives, habitat needs, and potential actions to maintain or recover local boreal caribou populations. This will occur through meetings, workshops, and other appropriate means. (Fall 2009 to Summer 2010)

(2) Ensuring Aboriginal traditional knowledge about boreal caribou informs the national recovery strategy. This will be done through various approaches including community workshops and interviews with key knowledge holders. (Fall 2009 to Summer 2010)

(3) Science studies on boreal caribou habitat requirements including local population range habitat descriptions, nationally consistent delineation of local population ranges, and a review of best management practices. (April 2009 to Dec 2010)

(4) Collaborative development of the national recovery strategy. This will include two main phases:

(a) Drafting by an Environment Canada-led recovery team with representatives from the provinces and territories, and Aboriginal representatives with wildlife management responsibilities; and

b) Review of the draft recovery strategy by three advisory groups with representatives from national environmental organizations and national industry associations, from national Aboriginal organizations, and from other affected federal government departments.

The collaborative development of the national recovery strategy will be informed by the consultations on key elements of the recovery strategy, Aboriginal traditional knowledge, and the scientific studies on boreal caribou habitat requirements. (Fall 2010 to Summer 2011)

(5) Posting the proposed national recovery strategy for boreal caribou on the Species at Risk Public Registry for a 60-day public comment period. (Summer 2011)

To Register:

Please send your name, contact information and date of workshop that you would like to attend to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
I encourage you to circulate this invitation to colleagues who may have an interest in the development of the national recovery strategy for boreal caribou.

I look forward to your participation in these consultation sessions.

Sincerely,

Susan Humphrey  - Regional Director Canadian Wildlife Service-Ontario

4905 Dufferin Street Toronto, ON M3H 5T4

Consultations on the key elements of the national recovery strategy will be occurring across Canada. We will be hosting four workshops across Ontario in the coming month to provide interested stakeholders the opportunity to participate in these consultations. We invite you to attend one of the following stakeholder workshops (sessions start at 9:00am and will end by 3:00pm):