The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, today announced details of a bi-lateral Caribou Conservation Agreement between the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada. Through this agreement the Provincial Government was successful in leveraging $5.4 million from the Federal Government to guide future conservation and protection of Labrador’s Boreal Caribou – Mealy Mountains, Lac Joseph, and Red Wine caribou herds. The agreement was reached under Section 11 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) for boreal caribou.

The agreement will guide a plan for the recovery and protection of boreal caribou in Labrador which focuses on research, monitoring, and Indigenous engagement for future management of Labrador’s boreal caribou. The plan is expected to be implemented over a period of four years.

A key component of the agreement is a commitment to collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations in Labrador to develop, implement and monitor conservation measures.  The agreement also includes acknowledgement by the Government of Canada of the wide range of threats to Labrador caribou, and commitment to provide substantial financial resources to address these threats.

A copy of the agreement has been posted to the Government of Canada Species at Risk Public RegistryOpens in new window.

Quote
“I am very pleased to announce this bi-lateral agreement that formally recognizes Indigenous participation and traditional Indigenous knowledge in the future recovery and protection of Labrador’s boreal caribou herds. The Provincial Government is fully aware of the cultural significance of boreal caribou to the people of Labrador and is anxious to begin work with all partners to implement a comprehensive plan that provides for enhanced conservation and recovery efforts.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

– 30 –

Learn more
Government of Canada Species at Risk Public RegistryOpens in new window

Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Details of the bi-lateral Caribou Conservation Agreement

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada have entered into a conservation agreement under Section 11 of Species at Risk Act (SARA) for boreal caribou. This conservation agreement intends to guide the protection and recovery of the species and its critical habitat, and provides a framework for achieving the critical habitat outcomes, among other caribou recovery outcomes sought by the Provincial Government.

GOAL AND PURPOSES

The overarching goal of the Boreal Caribou Conservation Agreement is to articulate how the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada will collaboratively support the recovery of boreal caribou in Labrador.

The purposes of this agreement are to:

• Coordinate planning efforts between the Parties, which includes facilitating the integration of new information into updated federal and provincial recovery documents;
• Support collaboration and partnerships with Indigenous governments and organizations that have a direct interest in the recovery of boreal caribou; and
• Identify conservation measures that will be taken by the Parties to support the recovery of boreal caribou in Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes commitments to:
  o   Address the threats associated with the unsanctioned harvest of boreal caribou; and
  o   Protect and manage habitat.