After 10 years, a new protected area gives endangered caribou a safe home and room to roam
On June 14, the Government of British Columbia announced the expansion of the Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area — significant new habitat protections in northern B.C. that will support the ongoing recovery of endangered caribou and other sensitive species in the area.
This positive announcement expands the park to 75 times its original size — from 2,689 to more than 200,000 hectares — making it the largest expansion of protected areas in B.C. in a decade.
Applauding Indigenous-led caribou recovery
A world-renowned caribou recovery initiative led by the West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations has shown the world what it takes to save an endangered species — all while restoring Treaty rights, providing predictability for industry, and protecting life-giving ecosystems for generations to come.
These new habitat protections are a significant milestone in this work, affirming the incredible leadership role that the two nations have already taken on mountain caribou efforts in Treaty 8 territory.
After decades of work, the West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations, alongside community and partners, have brought the herd from 38 animals in 2013 to more than 150 today — and that’s no small feat. The expanded park is the missing puzzle piece in giving these caribou a chance at thriving in their natural habitat.
The Klinse-za/Twin Sisters park is near intact forests, productive valley bottoms, and breathtaking alpine vistas, part of the vast Peace River region, and is significant both ecologically and culturally. This is where two ancient mountains rise on the horizon. Known as the Twin Sisters, these mountains have always been a sacred site for Indigenous Peoples in the area and across North America.
Saving mountain caribou from extinction
In 2020, thousands of hectares of this important refuge were first protected as part of a landmark partnership agreement between West Moberly First Nations and Saulteau First Nations, the B.C. government and the Government of Canada.
This agreement showcases the power of commitment, collaboration, and Indigenous-led stewardship of lands and waters. It’s a model that some Indigenous leaders have said is land-based reconciliation in action. By many metrics, the joint work of West Moberly and Saulteau, with many partners and supporters, has become the world’s most successful caribou recovery program.
The unprecedented success of the caribou agreement is a product of a comprehensive approach to caribou recovery including habitat restoration, maternal penning projects and predator management, and most importantly, habitat protection. Through these efforts, the decline of the central group of caribou has been reversed. The population is now growing at an average rate of 15 per cent per year.
The Indigenous-led work to save the Klinse-za caribou herd is a model for saving endangered species everywhere. The Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area has emerged as another inspiring example of the power of co-operation, of Indigenous-led conservation, and land-based reconciliation.
Growing connected and protected habitats for wildlife
The newly expanded Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area, roughly a third the size of Banff National Park, will help provide the caribou in the region with the refuge they need to recover to self-sustaining levels. Thirty-six other threatened and endangered species, including a vulnerable population of grizzly bears, wolverine, bull trout, and fisher, will also benefit from the protections.
Notably, the new protected area also provides important connectivity within the globally-significant Yellowstone to Yukon region — the world’s most intact mountainous area. It creates connections for wildlife moving between the northern Rockies and the Muskwa-Kechika Management area, to Kakwa and Monkman Provincial Parks and the Rocky Mountain National Parks.
The Indigenous-led work to save the Klinse-za caribou herd is a model for saving endangered species everywhere. The Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area has emerged as another inspiring example of the power of co-operation, of Indigenous-led conservation, and land-based reconciliation.
Let’s follow the lead of this incredible work and continue to safeguard biodiversity in B.C. so both communities and nature can thrive. Together, we can get it done.
Further reading
Y2Y commends significant expansion of Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area for endangered caribou
Y2Y is celebrating the expansion of the Klinse-za/Twin Sisters protected area in northeast B.C. — a remarkable milestone in the Indigenous-led recovery and conservation of endangered caribou.
Nature’s bounty: Lichen’s vital role in caribou survival
In a big, busy world, the tiny unassuming lichen quietly shares a compelling story: one of community, resilience and of a future where both people and nature thrive.
A vision realized: The story of standing up for caribou
The new short film ‘Caribou Homeland’ celebrates a vision realized, but also forges a path forward for saving and recovering other caribou herds in British Columbia.
Back from the brink: New research shows Indigenous-led conservation forging a new recovery model for caribou in British Columbia
The efforts and actions of two Indigenous communities in northern British Columbia have resulted in major gains for a particularly vulnerable group of caribou, according to new research released this week.
