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Incomplete protection of critical habitat still plagues southern mountain caribou in British Columbia, Canada

Published Article

British Columbia, Canada

Publication date: June 21, 2026

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This article examines progress and ongoing challenges in conserving southern mountain caribou in British Columbia, Canada. While habitat protection agreements and recovery measures have supported some populations, logging and road development continue within critical habitat, raising concerns about species recovery and implementation of Canada's Species at Risk Act.

Subject Tags

  • Habitat restoration
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Biodiversity

Overview

Southern mountain caribou conservation in British Columbia, Canada, remains at a critical crossroads. Since their listing under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003, 15 subpopulations have been functionally extirpated, underscoring the ongoing challenges of species recovery. This article examines progress made since 2020 through collaborative agreements among First Nations and the governments of British Columbia and Canada, including expanded protected areas, long term restrictions on industrial development, and recovery measures such as wolf reduction, maternal penning, supplemental feeding, and moose management. These actions have contributed to improved outcomes for several remaining caribou populations. However, habitat destruction continues to threaten recovery efforts. Provincial harvest records indicate that extensive areas of legally identified critical habitat have been logged since 2020, while road development continues to fragment important landscapes. The article explores the effectiveness of existing protections, the role of Indigenous leadership in conservation, delays in federal implementation of SARA commitments, and the need for durable habitat protection and restoration to ensure the long term survival and recovery of southern mountain caribou.

Citation

Palm, E. C., Fluker, S., Nesbitt, H. K., Jacob, A. L., Burkhart, T., & Hebblewhite, M. (2026). Incomplete protection of critical habitat still plagues southern mountain caribou in British Columbia, Canada. Conservation Science and Practice, 8(7), e70344. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70344

TNC Authors

  • Aerin L. Jacob
    The Nature Conservancy