The Shrinking The Shrinking Beverly Caribou Beverly Caribou

HerdHerd

Presentation to:CARMA

5 December 2009

Presented by: Earl Evans, BQCMB Board Member

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Who is the Who is the Caribou Management Board Caribou Management Board

(BQCMB)(BQCMB)

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Co-management advisory board Cooperative partnership between 20 communities and 5 governments.

What is the BQCMB?

Mandate:To advise governments and communities on conservation and management of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds and their ranges.

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BQCMB - established more than 25 years ago (in 1982)

Operating funds 1982- $60K2009 - $75K

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Beverly caribouBeverly caribou

YEAR-ROUND CARIBOU RANGES (based on collared cows 1996-2009) and 2007 CALVING GROUNDS.

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Photographic calving ground surveys every 6 years??

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Year Partner Position/Action

Mid-1990s Federal govt (CWS) Ended work on Beverly caribou

1998 Federal govt (CWS) No plans to replace retiring biologist on Board

1999-2009 Gov. NU No role in Beverly monitoring

2001 Sask. elders Restated opposition to collaring

2001 Gov. Nunavut No survey funding unless conservation issue identified

2002 Gov. NWT No photosurvey without collared caribou; systematic recon. survey

2003 Sask. elders Restated opposition to collaring

2004 Gov. NU No photosurvey without collared caribou

2006 Board members Support for collaring and surveys

2006 Gov. NWT “Beverly” collaring on winter range

2007 Gov. NWT Systematic recon. survey; photosurvey not feasible; post-calving collaring

2008 Gov. NWT Systematic recon. survey; collaring late winter

2009 Gov. NWT Systematic recon. survey

Some history re: Beverly decline

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Beverly calving area: 2007, 2008, 2009

15Courtesy of Saskatchewan Environment

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Beverly Calving Ground Survey June 2007

Beverly Calving Ground Survey

June 2008

Year of Number survey: adult

caribou(on

transect):

1994: 5,737

2002: 2,629

2007: 189

2008: 148

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Beverly Calving Ground Survey June 2009

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Year of Number survey: adult

caribou(on

transect):

1994: 5,737

2002: 2,629

2007: 189

2008: 148

2009 78

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YEAR-ROUND CARIBOU RANGES (based on collared cows 1996-2009) and 2007 CALVING GROUNDS.

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Total Net Value of Harvest By Herd

Beverly Herd $4,830,021

Qamanirjuaq Herd $15,350,795

Large difference in value mostly because of different

number of caribou harvested from the two herds.26

76%

24%

Annual net value of caribou harvest by herd Annual net value of caribou harvest by herd

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BQCMB BQCMB PlansPlans

Lessons Learned

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From Thomas and Schaefer (1991):

There are two major options that will challenge the Board:

•Reduce or change the age/sex structure of the kill

•Reduce predation.

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