I am very concerned that you…

I am very concerned that you are about to exempt the logging industry from Ontario's Endangered Species at Risk Act until 2020.

The caribou require large, undisturbed areas of old or mature conifer upland forest and lowlands dominated by jack pine and/or black spruce. These areas allow caribou to effectively separate themselves from higher densities of moose, white-tailed deer, grey wolves and black bears which tend to be associated with younger mixed or deciduous forest. Allowing the logging industry to be exempt from Ontario's Endangered Species of Risk Act threatens the territory they need to survive.

Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation due to human settlement and development activities such as forestry, mining, hydro corridors and roads all threaten the Caribou. They are also at risk from an increase in predation and disease that accompanies such broad habitat changes. Between 40 to 50 per cent of caribou range in Ontario has been lost since the late 1800s.

Climate change, with its potential to affect the boreal population of caribou in the future by further reducing available habitat and influencing food sources, is enough of a challenge for these spectacular mammals to contend with. Adding deforestation through logging for simple job maintenance and economic gain is unconscienable.

Please continue to prevent the logging industry from encroaching on Caribou territory. Do not exempt the logging industry from the Endangered Species at Risk Act.

[Original Comment ID: 212713]