Steps & Timeline

 
What are the key steps in developing a Management Plan for Northern Mountain caribou?

· May 2003 – The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated the Northern Mountain population of woodland caribou as a species of Special Concern. This designation means COSEWIC believes this population of caribou is at risk of becoming a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. Download the COSEWIC Status Report for Woodland Caribou here.  (1.6 MB PDF, 109pp). 

· January 2005 - The Government of Canada listed Northern Mountain caribou as a species of Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Visit the Northern Mountain Caribou profile on Species at Risk Public Registry. 

· March 2007 - Northern Mountain Caribou Management Planning Workshop, March 19-21, 2007, Whitehorse, YT. This workshop brought together representatives from the BC, Yukon and NWT governments, First Nations governments, and wildlife Co-management Boards to discuss the development of a management plan for the Northern Mountain caribou population. The workshop was co-hosted by Yukon Department of Environment and Canadian Wildlife Service.

· June 2007 - The federal, territorial and provincial governments invited all First Nations, boards, and councils with responsibilities for the management of lands and wildlife within the range of this caribou population, to participate in the drafting of the management plan.

The Northern Mountain Caribou Management Team was formed with representatives of all parties who expressed an interest in participating in the drafting process. Team members currently include representatives of the BC, Yukon and NWT governments, First Nations governments, wildlife Co-management Boards, the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, the Northern Nations Alliance, Environment Canada and Parks Canada.

· September 2007 to July 2008 - The Northern Mountain Caribou Management Team develops the draft Plan. During this time, Team members gather relevant information from communities, First Nations, individuals and government wildlife managers.

During the drafting of the Plan, if you have any questions or information on caribou, please Contact Us, and view the other Ways you can Participate.   

· November 25-26, 2008 - The Northern Mountain Caribou Management Team meets for the last time to draft the Implementation Schedule for the Draft Plan. 

· February 2009 - The Team submits the draft Management Plan to Environment Canada, as required by the Species at Risk Act. 

· May 2009 - Environment Canada begins the formal national consultation process. At the beginning of this step, the draft Management Plan will become available on the SARA Public Registry website.  Once the Plan is posted to the SARA Public Registry, comments may be submitted

-By e-mail to: SARAregistry@ec.gc.ca                                                                             

-By regular mail to: Director General, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3

· November 2009- Environment Canada revises the draft Management Plan based on input from the consultations.


Legal responsibility for the management of caribou and their habitat is shared by federal, territorial, provincial, and First Nation governments with final agreements. These agencies will jointly implement the Management Plan once it is completed.