Clearcut Raises Concerns For Threatened Caribou

"An aboriginal community is outraged after discovering that a Vancouver mining company conducting coal exploration in B.C.'s Rocky Mountains has cleared a mountain ridge near Chetwynd that is critical wintering habitat for threatened caribou.

Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nation said his people were shocked to learn that about 17 hectares have been damaged for coal exploration. "They've cleared off the site ... and damaged critical core habitat," he said.

Willson said the First Coal Corp. site, known as the Goodrich Property, is among a slew of resource-related developments, including wind turbines and oil and gas, occurring in the midst of caribou habitat in the region.

"It's to the point these caribou are probably going to become extinct in this area.""

ORIGINAL SOURCE: The Vancouver Sun