Read the latest about The Cochrane Plan.
The next forest management plan (FMP) 2022-2032 for the Abitibi River Forest is currently being developed. Wildlands League participated in meetings in late 2020 to ensure the broad strokes of the FMP would be consistent with the principles of the Cochrane Plan. Rayonier Advanced Materials, a key partner in the region, also played a pivotal role.
As a result of these collective efforts, we’ve had a breakthrough, in the latest version and approved Dynamic Caribou Habitat Schedule (DCHS) places no short term cut blocks in currently occupied habitat for boreal caribou in the Kesagami Range and respects Moose Cree’s First Nation Protected Area in the North French Watershed. This buys us critical time to put in place a long term strategy that safeguards both caribou and the North French Watershed.
COVID-19 prevented us from visiting Cochrane in 2020 and 2021 but we’re hoping to be back in the winter of 2022 to hold more events like we did in 2018 and 2019. See Made in the North Caribou Plan for details.
Above: Abitibi River Forest in NE ON.
Why we care
We remain concerned at the rate by which Ontario’s boreal woodland caribou are disappearing – due largely to human destruction of their habitat. Caribou are bellwethers of the Boreal Forest’s health. They thrive in landscapes that are largely untouched by industrial development. Canada’s Boreal Forest holds the world’s most important stores of carbon, regulating our climate and also filters our air and provides us with clean freshwater.
We also care because we believe in solutions and that with perseverance they are possible. We seek connections and are not afraid to roll up our sleeves to find solutions with First Nations, industry, government, scientists and concerned citizens. It’s tough work and it takes time but it’s worth it.
Solution
The future for boreal woodland caribou in Ontario and across Canada is uncertain. Without effective habitat conservation and recovery measures, many of Canada’s caribou populations are in peril. What the Abitibi River Forest example teaches us is that solutions are possible. You can help by supporting innovative solutions like what was done in the Abitibi River Forest.
