Ontario and the federal government announced almost $70 million in funding to implement a Caribou Conservation Agreement that will extend to 2027. The agreement includes $29 million in federal funding that will help the province continue to build on progress outlined in the first annual report.
The report, released in March, focuses on 13 conservation measures, which Ontario has already progressed towards. Most notable are the implementing of caribou population monitoring in priority ranges, enhanced protection measures, and developing a science plan for Ontario’s caribou. The funding will support stewardship projects and help find alternative approaches to supporting boreal caribou populations.
Ontario is also proposing to expand two protected areas as part of the agreement. If approved, these expansions would add up to 44,000 hectares to existing provincial parks. It is anticipated that the proposed expansions will proceed for implementation as early as 2025.
Ontario possesses approximately 20% of Canada’s Boreal Caribou range, which supports approximately 5,000 caribou.
“Ontario’s commitment of nearly $35 million over five years to caribou conservation and recovery is the single largest investment dedicated to caribou in Ontario’s history. We will continue to work with our partners, using scientific advice from the recent Assessment Report, as well as Indigenous traditional knowledge, to implement this Agreement and take meaningful action to protect this vital species,” Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrea Khanjin stated in a release.