Group calling on AB to stop oil leases on caribou range
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May 1, 2013, 10:14:07 AM5/1/13
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Group calling on Alberta gov’t to stop oil leases on caribou range
Beacon Reporter AB | April 24, 2013 | 1 Comment
Environmentalists want province to stop selling oil leases on caribou
range
The Alberta Wilderness Association is calling on the province to stop
oil leases on caribou ranges. Photo: M. Bradley.
The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is calling on the province to
stop selling oil and gas leases on the habitat of a dwindling caribou
herd.
The AWA says oils sands development is threatening caribou populations
in Alberta.
Woodland caribou are listed as “threatened” under Alberta’s Wildlife
Act, which is defined as “a species likely to become endangered if
limiting factors are not reversed.”
AWA says the province is auctioning a total of 14,000 hectares of
leases today in five threatened Alberta caribou herds’ ranges.
The association says 1300 hectares will be auctioned in the Little
Smoky range in west central Alberta, where less than 100 caribou
remain.
“Alberta Energy promotes caribou habitat disturbance by selling leases
that drive new well sites, ignoring technology options to reduce
existing [industry] footprint,” says Carolyn Campbell, AWA conservation
specialist.
According to Environment Canada, woodland caribou need at least 65 per
cent undisturbed habitat to have a 60 per cent chance of being
self-sustaining.
In January 2012, Global Forest Watch Canada reported that the eight
Alberta caribou herds in the oil sands development areas already had 64
per cent industrial disturbance.
AWA says over 95 per cent of the caribou’s habitat is disturbed by
industry in the Little Smoky range.
Although the Little Smoky caribou have seen a stable population for the
last six years, AWA says that’s because of a “war on wolves.”
The Alberta government kills wolves, who prey on caribou, using
helicopter shooting and poisoning to keep the herd from dying out.
About 650 wolves have been killed since 2005.
Alberta Wilderness Association sent open letter to Energy Minister
On February 6, the group sent an open letter to Energy Minister Ken
Hughes requesting deferral of new leases in the Little Smoky caribou
range.
“The fate of this caribou herd rests with your decision to defer new
leasing and disturbance until enough habitat can be restored to recover
these populations,” says the letter.
“Please take the first step by postponing these auctions of new
dispositions in the Little Smoky caribou range.”
The association said they haven’t received a reply from Hughes.
Federal government released caribou strategy in 2012
In October 2012 the federal government published its final boreal
woodland caribou strategy that requires each province to develop an
action plan to achieve at least 65 per cent undisturbed habitat for
each caribou range.
The plan emphasized habitat restoration, but gave the government
another three to five years to develop a plan for each range, then more
time to develop an action plan after that.
“If Alberta is sincere about responsible energy development, the
provincial government should defer new leasing and disturbance until
enough caribou habitat can be restored to recover the populations,”
said Campbell.
http://beaconnews.ca/blog/2013/04/group-calling-on-alberta-govt-to-
stop-oil-leases-on-caribou-range/
Alberta residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by
filling out this brief survey. (at link)
Reference: Parks Canada - Species at Risk - Woodland Caribou
http://www.pc.gc.ca/nature/eep-sar/itm3/eep-sar3caribou.aspx
<========<< o >>========>
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News about / by / for Indigenous Peoples
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indigenous-news/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wabanaki-news/
Beacon Reporter AB | April 24, 2013 | 1 Comment
Environmentalists want province to stop selling oil leases on caribou
range
The Alberta Wilderness Association is calling on the province to stop
oil leases on caribou ranges. Photo: M. Bradley.
The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is calling on the province to
stop selling oil and gas leases on the habitat of a dwindling caribou
herd.
The AWA says oils sands development is threatening caribou populations
in Alberta.
Woodland caribou are listed as “threatened” under Alberta’s Wildlife
Act, which is defined as “a species likely to become endangered if
limiting factors are not reversed.”
AWA says the province is auctioning a total of 14,000 hectares of
leases today in five threatened Alberta caribou herds’ ranges.
The association says 1300 hectares will be auctioned in the Little
Smoky range in west central Alberta, where less than 100 caribou
remain.
“Alberta Energy promotes caribou habitat disturbance by selling leases
that drive new well sites, ignoring technology options to reduce
existing [industry] footprint,” says Carolyn Campbell, AWA conservation
specialist.
According to Environment Canada, woodland caribou need at least 65 per
cent undisturbed habitat to have a 60 per cent chance of being
self-sustaining.
In January 2012, Global Forest Watch Canada reported that the eight
Alberta caribou herds in the oil sands development areas already had 64
per cent industrial disturbance.
AWA says over 95 per cent of the caribou’s habitat is disturbed by
industry in the Little Smoky range.
Although the Little Smoky caribou have seen a stable population for the
last six years, AWA says that’s because of a “war on wolves.”
The Alberta government kills wolves, who prey on caribou, using
helicopter shooting and poisoning to keep the herd from dying out.
About 650 wolves have been killed since 2005.
Alberta Wilderness Association sent open letter to Energy Minister
On February 6, the group sent an open letter to Energy Minister Ken
Hughes requesting deferral of new leases in the Little Smoky caribou
range.
“The fate of this caribou herd rests with your decision to defer new
leasing and disturbance until enough habitat can be restored to recover
these populations,” says the letter.
“Please take the first step by postponing these auctions of new
dispositions in the Little Smoky caribou range.”
The association said they haven’t received a reply from Hughes.
Federal government released caribou strategy in 2012
In October 2012 the federal government published its final boreal
woodland caribou strategy that requires each province to develop an
action plan to achieve at least 65 per cent undisturbed habitat for
each caribou range.
The plan emphasized habitat restoration, but gave the government
another three to five years to develop a plan for each range, then more
time to develop an action plan after that.
“If Alberta is sincere about responsible energy development, the
provincial government should defer new leasing and disturbance until
enough caribou habitat can be restored to recover the populations,”
said Campbell.
http://beaconnews.ca/blog/2013/04/group-calling-on-alberta-govt-to-
stop-oil-leases-on-caribou-range/
Alberta residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by
filling out this brief survey. (at link)
Reference: Parks Canada - Species at Risk - Woodland Caribou
http://www.pc.gc.ca/nature/eep-sar/itm3/eep-sar3caribou.aspx
<========<< o >>========>
IndigeNews - Indigenous News Service
News about / by / for Indigenous Peoples
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indigenous-news/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wabanaki-news/
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