New report: Intact Habitat Landscapes and Woodland Caribou on the Island of Newfoundland

(Photo: flickr.com/Rosino)

A new report has been released about woodland caribou on the island of Newfoundland. Woodland caribou in Newfoundland have recently experienced a steep and rapid decline. While predation on caribou calves is a key reason for this decline, habitat alteration from human land use and activities can result in functional habitat loss – a decline in caribou occupancy well beyond the immediate footprint of the disturbance. Disturbed areas also allow predators easier access to caribou herds.

Recommendations in this report include:

• The government of Newfoundland and Labrador adopt a landscape-level approach to caribou management that seeks to maintain large intact habitat landscapes across the Island of Newfoundland.

• The government of Newfoundland and Labrador apply a temporary deferral on all new forest harvesting and road building within intact habitat landscapes that support caribou until the completion of the 5 year Caribou Strategy, the 2013 Sustainable Forest Management Strategy and the conclusion of the Adaptive Management Research Project.

• The government of Newfoundland and Labrador implement the Natural Areas System Plan and prioritize protecting candidate areas that overlap with caribou occupancy areas.