Peary caribou need our protection

Congratulations to Nunatsiaq News for bringing clarity and insight to the urgent matter of protecting the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds in the face of unprecedented levels of mineral exploration (“Baker HTO worried about caribou grounds,” Feb. 17, 2006).

The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB) supports the opportunities for economic development that the mining industry affords northerners, provided that developments go hand-in-hand with sound conservation measures to preserve the caribou herds for present and future generations. The board puts high priority on working collaboratively with governments and industry to seek responsible and effective caribou and habitat protection solutions.

I should clarify that past opposition to placing radio collars on caribou was mainly from a few communities, and not from BQCMB aboriginal members. Aboriginal members of the BQCMB from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories join with the government members in recognizing the necessity of obtaining accurate data from collaring, and strongly support this management technique.

Given that population surveys are the responsibility of governments, the BQCMB sees its role as pressing all government agencies to do their part in conducting the surveys, now that information on the seasonal ranges used by both the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds will be available through monitoring collared caribou (starting in April 2006). As always, the board also stands ready to lend its support, provide recommendations, and play a coordinating role to maintain momentum on this and other key barren-ground caribou initiatives.

Ross Thompson
Secretary-Treasurer
Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board