The Canadian government is spending $24 million (CDN) to boost the population of woodland caribou at Jasper National Park/ Lalenia Neufeld

The Canadian government is making a $24 million (CDN) bet on the future of woodland caribou in Jasper National Park in Alberta.

With that sum, the government is designing a conservation breeding facility for caribou and planning consultations on the recovery plans this fall with Indigenous partners and the general public.

If approved following consultation and completion of the impact assessment process, the conservation breeding facility would be built nearby in favourable caribou habitat, south of the Jasper townsite.

“The woodland caribou is an iconic species that is an important part of the natural and cultural history of Canada. Through this important initiative, the Government of Canada is moving forward with concrete action to assist the species in its recovery within the boundaries of Jasper National Park – a special protected place that provides the best scenario for a successful conservation effort," the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada said last month when the funding was announced.

"This funding will support Parks Canada to take further action to protect ecological integrity and contribute to the recovery of species at risk.”

Parks Canada wildlife specialists have been working for many years to protect habitat and support the recovery of woodland caribou herds in Jasper National Park. These specialists have collaborated with experts from universities, provincial governments, and conservation groups to explore additional measures that can help to support woodland caribou recovery. One of these is a proposal for a conservation breeding program to help rebuild caribou populations as part of the broader Multi-Species Action Plan for Jasper National Park.

Parks Canada is committed to continuing to involve Indigenous peoples early and in the planning stages of the proposed conservation breeding program and to facilitating ceremonies throughout the process. Moving forward, Parks Canada will work with Indigenous partner communities to formally review the proposal and will consult Indigenous peoples about how to incorporate traditional knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing into the proposed conservation breeding program in Jasper National Park.

Efforts to protect caribou and critical caribou habitat in Jasper National Park are part of a broader effort by federal and provincial governments as well as Indigenous partners, peoples and communities to support the recovery of woodland caribou across Canada.

Traveler footnote: Jennifer Bain, National Parks Traveler's Canadian editor, wrote about the conservation work with woodland caribou at Jasper in June.