Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Groups are asking Parks Canada to close Tonquin backcountry to human access all snow season in order to protect the dwindling caribou population.
Parks Canada lifted its winter-time backcountry access restrictions in Jasper National Park’s Tonquin caribou range on Feb. 16.
Groups criticizing this decision include the Alpine Club of Canada, Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Northern Alberta Chapter and David Suzuki Foundation.
“There are so few caribou left in the herds in Jasper, that every single individual counts,” the groups said in a statement. “The precautionary principle is required in this situation.”
The Alpine Club of Canada has voluntarily suspended bookings at its Tonquin backcountry Wates-Gibson hut for the entire winter.
The groups are also asking Parks Canada to re-assess and reduce impacts to caribou of Tonquin summer-fall backcountry access.
