DECRYPTION – As the COP15 summit opens in Montreal, a delegation of Quebec natives made the trip to defend the survival of caribou, severely threatened by human activity.
Another endangered species. As the COP15 biodiversity summit opens this Wednesday, December 7, the decline of Canada’s caribou population is emerging in the discussions. In 2003, the government listed woodland caribou asthreatened (species likely to be endangered if limiting factors are not reversed). Two years later, it is also designated by the Quebec region as a species “vulnerable(state considered precarious but no feared disappearance in the short term).
Living in cold and snowy environments of the Canadian Tundra, the species is divided into three ecotypes (hereditary type within a species). The mountain caribou, which as its name suggests, lives in the mountains. The migrant, who makes great migrations each year. And finally the forester, or sedentary, who lives in the forests. These three ecotypes are today in a “precarious status“Warns Daniel Fortin, professor in the biology department at the University of Laval in Quebec.
Caribou population decline
This precariousness is explained by a considerable decline in the population of the species “since many years“. Near Val-d’Or, in the south-west of the Quebec region, the population would have fallen from 77 individuals in 1952, to only 7 individuals between 2019 and 2020. Same phenomenon on the side of Gaspésie, a peninsula located in the center -eastern Quebec. In 1983, “there were 191 caribou, up from 40 in 2019».
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However, Daniel Fortin insists that the figures for this decrease are very controversial and difficult to estimate. Every year, the government carries out a census based on aerial shots, “but this is not representative“. To obtain figures closer to reality,populations should be closely monitored», points out Daniel Fortin. However, “it is proven that all ecotypes are affected by a decline“, adds the specialist.
Hunting then logging: responsible human activity
But why are caribou endangered? “Due to human disturbance», replies our expert. During colonization, the development of towns and hunting gradually pushed the caribou north. “Now hunting is no longer the problem because the communities have stopped this practice, but logging“. This pioneering industry in the Canadian economy since the 19e century disrupts caribou habitat.
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Cutting trees has several consequences on the survival of the animal. On the one hand, it reduces the quantity of lichen, the main food of caribou, which is found in the trees and takes thirty years to grow back. Behind it arehardwood [bouleau, peuplier] who repel“. But they satisfy the moose more than the caribou, which find themselves without food.
Intense animal predation
Furthermore, loggingincreases caribou mortalityby increasing the risk of animal predation. Without trees, these beasts cannot hide from wolves and bears. Added to this are “road networks” – built by men to cut and take out the wood in order to market it – which “facilitate access to the forest for predators».
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In the field, Jean-Luc Kanapé, a member of the Innu community of Pessamit in Quebec and land warden in charge of caribou surveillance, sees it every day. “Caribou are sensitive, he informs, and are therefore highly disturbed by human modification of their habitat“. This summer, the Innu researcher discovered “the corpses of two cubs, killed by predation».
“Cultural Genocide”
Faced with this increasingly worrying situation, Jean-Luc Kanapé deplores the inaction of the Canadian state. “The government of François Legault [premier ministre du Québec, NDLR.] doesn’t give a damn about caribou, he complains. He prefers to keep jobs in the forestry industry to the detriment of our culture“. The only measure put in place was togroup some caribou in enclosures to protect them from predation“, reports Daniel Fortin. But Jean-Luc Kanapé criticizes this practice, fearing that the territory “looks like a big zoo».
Member of a six-person delegation, Jean-Luc Kanapé and his team made the trip to the Montreal congress, where the COP15 summit is being held. Their objective : “Make the government understand that there are more important than votes in the next election». «It’s a cry for help to stop this cultural genocide, he is moved, it’s my dearest wish“. Daniel Fortin is also calling for action during this summit, with a “strong commitment to restore caribou habitat“, without what, “all efforts would be in vain».
Uncertain outcome of COP15
Determined, the Innu indigenous group came to the COP with proposals such as the creationof protected areas from logging“. Daniel Fortin offers him the “depredationas a possible solution in areas where wolvesare very numerous“. It consists of “kill wolves to decrease the amount of predators“. Jean-Luc Kanapé already exercises this practice on the territory of which he has custody. “I observe the wolves to trap them, he explains. The goal is to balance the species in areas where there are sometimes up to five packs of wolves».
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Jean-Luc Kanapé admits all the same that he does not believe in real changes during COP15, but declares “do all we can“. Negotiations have stalled at this summit for three years. And this year, the objective is colossal: to conclude in two weeks a historic agreement in order to protect 30% of the lands and seas. Although three days of preliminary discussions were held from December 3 to 6 to facilitate the work, no progress was found. In particular because of the absence of heads of state at the summit, jeopardizing the holding of negotiations.