The Ministry of Forests in British Columbia approved logging permits in July 2025 for areas that house the endangered southern montain caribou, despite a direct warning from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. The decision threatens a local herd of fewer than 200 animals near Quesnel Lake and contradicts protections under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

July 2025 memo warns of 815.2 hectares impact

According to a memo obtained by citizens, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship warned that logging could disturb up to 815.2 hectares when buffers are included. The document, dated July 2025, highlighted that such disturbance would fragment the core habitat needed for caribou to raise calves and evade predators.

West Fraser Timber’s permit covres 329 .9 hectares vs claimed 200

The memo also flagged a discrepancy in West Fraser Timber’s own figures. While the company claimed the harvest would be limited to 200 hectares across four permits,the ministry’s analysis showed that three of those blocks actually total 329.9 hectares. This mismatch raises questions about the accuracy of corporate reporting and the rigor of governmental oversight.

Only 200 caribou remain near Quesnel Lake

Government data from 2023 indicate that the southern mountain caribou population across British Columbia has fallen to fewer than 1,400 individuals in 18 fragmented herds.. In the region surrounding Mike James’s faamily cabin near Quesnel Lake , estimates suggest fewer than 200 caribou survive, making any habitat loss potentially catastrophic .

Ministry of Forests proceeds despite Species at Risk Act

Despite the memo’s warnings,the Ministry of Forests issued a permit for one contested area about a month after the report was written. Lucero Gonzales of the Wilderness Committee cited satellite imagery from early May that shows logging already underway, underscoring a “systemic failure” within the provincial government.. The ministry defended its decision by citing a “complex balancing act” that includes public safety and forest management, but it also acknowledged that permits can be refused if impacts are deemed unacceptable.

Who will enforce the Species at Risk Act?

The controversy leaves open the question of enforcement: will the provincial government face legal challenges for contravening the Species at Risk Act, or will the permits stand unchallenged? As of now, no court action has been reported, and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship maintains that the final authority rests with the Ministry of Forests.