B.C.'s Wild Harts | Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

THE WILD HARTS A CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITY

The beating heart of a vast, wild and diverse ecosystem, the Hart ranges of northeastern British Columbia are the last untamed landscape in a sea of development.

Photo: Colin Arisman

A Vital Link Although the majority of the Peace Break region, traditional territory of the Treaty 8 First Nations, has extensive road networks and a massive industrial footprint, a band of relatively intact land extends north-south along these mountains, giving it national and international ecological significance as the last contiguous intact forest landscape in the Peace.

Sanctuary to 37 threatened and endangered species, this bridge of intact wilderness enables wildlife to move between two big islands of protected habitat: the Muskwa-Kechika area to the north, and the big parks of the central Rocky Mountains to the south.

Characterized by rolling hills with highly variable terrain, ranging from pine and white spruce forests at lower levels to alpine tundra above 2500 metres, the area boasts mature and old-growth forests, spectacular geological formations, alpine meadows, and impressive water features such as lakes, waterfalls and rich wetlands. Mighty rivers rise in the glacial highlands; including the Peace and the Pine, the Murray and the McGregor — sources of drinking water to many communities in B.C. and beyond.

“ Without the animals, and without the trees and the forest, our culture wouldn’t survive. All animals, not only caribou, are part of our makeup.

We need them as much as they need us.”

Harley Davis, Saulteau First Nations

Photo: David Moskowitz

A Diverse Oasis

A Threatened Wilderness

A landscape of mist-shrouded valleys and stunning glacial peaks, roaring rivers teeming with fish, and flower-carpeted alpine meadows, the Harts are home to broad-shouldered bears, nimble Dall’s sheep, and the ghosts of the mountains: the last remaining herds of northern caribou.

For decades the Peace has endured rampant industrial development at the expense of the land. The threshold of habitat destruction has been exceeded in much of the region, resulting in population crashes for caribou and moose — something researchers say could have been avoided if some habitat and connectivity was preserved.

7

RED LISTED

SPECIES

B.C. Conservation Status ranking includes any indigenous species or subspecies that have, or are candidates for, extirpated, endangered, or threatened.

Due to these industrial impacts, three of five caribou herd ranges have been reduced by more than 50 per cent. The little critical habitat that remains is at risk of further fragmentation and destruction. While northern communities depend on resource extraction for jobs, many recognize the imbalance between development and need to maintain healthy land and wildlife populations.

30 BLUE LISTED

SPECIES

Photo: Josh Whetzel

B.C. Conservation Status includes any indigenous species or subspecies considered to be of special concern and are particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities or natural events.

The Hart ranges are home to some of the highest grizzly bear densities in British Columbia.

Ciarniello et al. 2005, 2007, 2009

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

A Desperate Effort First Nations elders remember the South Peace was once home to a “sea of caribou.”

Since then, the land has been opened up by the cumulative impacts of industry, pushing the caribou to the brink.

Extraordinary and desperate measures like maternal penning help stem the tide of extinction at the local scale, but much more is required.

The Wild Harts include much of the remaining ranges of the Quintette, Kennedy, Narraway and Klinse-Za herds, as well as the Hart and Parsnip herds of mountain caribou.

These mountains are their only remaining home.

To preserve this last refuge we must manage human use better and balance development with conservation.

Photo: Isabelle Groc

A marked increase in caribou predation, mostly by wolves, results largely from extensive habitat changes due to cumulative industrial and natural disturbances. Industry service roads and packed trails, as well as motorized recreation access, increase the mobility of predators in forested areas.

A Last Chance for Caribou First Nations and local communities are working hard to save these magnificent wild animals. Just west of Chetwynd in the Wild Harts, First Nations have been taking steps to avert the elimination of the Klinse-Za herd by protecting pregnant cows and calves from predation during the birthing season. While the numbers are small, this intervention has helped to stabilize this one herd’s population, for now.

Fantastic Finds With wonderfully varied geology, topography, scenery and human history, the Hart Ranges catapulted to fame following fantastic paleontological finds over the past decade. Some of the geomorphological features include the great mountain range itself; rock folding, faulting, spectacular towers and formations; limestone caves; other karst phenomena; a variety of lake forms; lacustrine terraces and canyons. Fossil finds include a Cretaceous dinosaur trackways, a bonebed and plant fossils; Triassic marine reptile and fish; and Mississippian invertebrates. Recognized internationally for the global significance of the region’s geological and natural heritage, a southern portion of the Hart ranges is now the home of the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark, which is only the second Geopark in North America and part of a network of 111 Global Geoparks worldwide. http://tumblerridgegeopark.ca Photo: Josh Whetzel

• Fort St. John • Taylor • Hudson’s Hope • Chetwynd

• Dawson Creek

• Mackenzie • Tumbler Ridge

A Serious Impact Linear disturbance buffered to 500 m. Hikers cannot travel half a kilometre before hitting a road, seismic line or other industry development in a landscape that once supported abundant moose, caribou and other wildlife.

Northeastern B.C. has approximately 29,000 km of pipelines, 45,000 km of roads and 117,000 km of seismic lines. Strung together these would wrap around the world more than four times.

David Suzuki Foundation, 2016

Legend • Vanderhoof

Road, Seismic Line or Industry Development (Canada Access 2010)

Protected Areas

• Prince George

A Looming Deadline As part of the global Convention on Biodiversity, Canada has committed to conserve at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, by 2020.

It’s past time the extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and communities of northeast B.C. received the same recognition and preservation as the rest of the province.

PROTECTED AREAS IN B.C. (AVERAGE)

PROTECTED AREAS IN THE PEACE RIVER BREAK

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Working together, we can ensure that the astonishing landscapes and rich natural heritage of the Wild Hart ranges are part of our collective future.

Guaranteeing a safe home for wildlife such as caribou and grizzly bear, as well as 35 other threatened species, is something we can all be proud of.

Your support is vital. Speak up for the Peace, and for the Harts: wild forever.

LEARN MORE y2y.net/harts

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SEND A LETTER TO THE B.C. GOVERNMENT premier@gov.bc.ca ENV.minister@gov.bc.ca FLNR.minister@gov.bc.ca

HEAD OFFICE 200–1350 Railway Ave, Canmore, A.B. T1W 1P6

Tel (403) 609-2666 Fax (403) 609-2667 Toll-free 1-800-966-7920

PEACE REGION OFFICE Box 3046 Chetwynd, B.C. V0C 1J0

info@y2y.net y2y.net

Research and design generously supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Printed in Canada, 2017. Copyright 2017 Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. All rights reserved.

Cover Photo: Nicolas Dory