In Manitoba, the provincial government estimates that half of the original woodland Caribou population has disappeared. In 2000 the Manitoba government released the "Woodland Caribou Conservation Strategy" to protect the caribou. The East Shore Wilderness would be a perfect candidate. It is world-renowned as a caribou sanctuary. Help make sure protection happens.

Caribou at The Crossroads

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.22 - No.04, Spring/Summer 2003

There are solutions for Manitoba's caribou

The East Side Planning Initiative, with a stated goal of “maintaining the ecological integrity and biological functions of the boreal forest within the planning area,” is the perfect opportunity to ensure the caribou’s survival in Manitoba for future generations. And yet the Planning Initiative is currently proposing to give away land for logging, mining, and hydro without studies that would provide critical information on woodland caribou in the East Shore.

The Manigotagan River (left) is the great divide between two “high risk” caribou ranges. Logging and wildfires in Nopiming Provincial Park (right) and surrouding caribou habitat has placed the Owl Lake caribou herd at “high risk.” According to government estimates, this herd has decreased from approx. 200 in the 1960s to 65-75 in 2000. Photo credit: Don Sullivan

The Wilderness Committee has long advocated for planning processes that are based on sound scientific principles. To acheive this, the provincial government must make provisions for the planning process to include:

  • Full protection of woodland caribou and its critical habitat as a key objective.
  • Funding for independently-sourced scientific research which also incorporates First Nations’ traditional knowledge, to determine the survival needs of all the East Shore caribou herds.
  • Thorough First Nations consultation must take place, with consent required before proceeding with any development.
  • An ecology-first approach in the East Shore Wilderness planning process.
  • Absolutely NO road building and NO resource allocation before the entire planning process, including scientific studies and public consultation, is complete.
  • Highway planning, mining exploration, Hydro’s BiPole III project, and other development plans impacting the area must be halted during the land-use planning process.
  • A majority of the East Shore must be fully protected from industrial exploitation such as clearcut logging, mining, and hydro to protect its ecological integrity.

    • Public Support High for Caribou


    In a recent poll by McAllister Opinion Research, Manitobans showed strong support for preserving caribou habitat on the East Shore Wilderness Area.

  • 89% said Manitoba should make protection for the woodland caribou herds and their habitat a key objective of any East Side land use plan.
  • 84% said protecting the animals, birds and unique species like woodland caribou that live in the Manitoba East Side is more of a priority than economic development in this area.
  • 85% said Manitoba should protect the woodland caribou and their habitat under its Endangered Species Act.


    •