Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature; and Pascale Déry, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, announced they have reached an agreement for the recovery and protection of caribou in Quebec. This agreement includes funding of $25 million over five years from the Government of Canada.
This funding will be in addition to the Government of Quebec's investments totalling $59.5 million for 2024--2028 to support the deployment of conservation measures.
The caribou is a species of ecological and cultural importance in Canada. It is central to the identity and culture of Indigenous peoples and holds a strong attachment to Canadians. Canada and Quebec intend to consult and involve Quebec's Indigenous communities in implementing actions for the recovery of the species, which include, in particular:
- Habitat management, including protecting habitats from natural disturbances, restoring habitats, and designating protected or conserved areas
- Population management, including managing and maintaining existing maternity conservation pens, developing infrastructure, and monitoring and managing predators
- Participation of Indigenous communities in understanding the species, including monitoring and managing populations, implementing habitat management, projects for increasing knowledge, developing and distributing tools to raise awareness, and knowledge-sharing workshops
In addition, the Government of Canada also committed $15 million over five years to Quebec's Indigenous communities for the recovery of caribou or its habitat in Quebec.
Quebec has 17 caribou populations divided into three ecotypes-woodland, migratory, and mountain-and is actively learning to better protect them. At the same time, the Quebec government has implemented a series of concrete actions, including the captivity of the most vulnerable populations to halt their decline, which has even led to growth in some cases, particularly in Charlevoix and Gaspésie, where numbers are increasing.
In addition to these actions, many protected areas have been created and protected throughout Quebec, helping preserve caribou populations and their habitats.
