Central BC will have an 11,000 hectare caribou habitat secured for 50 years.
The project is in collaboration with the federal and provincial government, Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation, Ulkatcho First Nation and Artemis Gold Inc, who will also be providing $2.7 million over time.
The caribou population, east of the Blackwater Mine project, has been decreasing over the past few decades for several reasons.
The securement of the land keeps any work done by Artemis Gold away from the area, such as exploring or developing its mineral tenures.
Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said in a release that “The recovery of endangered caribou herds is incredibly important, and the complex nature of this work requires deep partnership between the province, First Nations and industry.”
The funding will be used for habitat restoration, led by the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation and Ulkatcho First Nation, where they will work with the provincial and federal governments to identify and implement priority restoration projects.