Survival of bison herd may depend on oil firm

CNRL has declined to commit land it can easily afford to part with

An unbelievable survival story is playing out on the range of the legendary Ronald

Lake bison herd within the lowlands west of the Athabasca River and north of Fort Mckay in northern Alberta.

One of the last disease-free, free-ranging wood bison herds in the world, the Ronald Lake bison herd, has defied experts and observers by remaining free of crippling brucellosis and tuberculosis, which has plagued other herds in the area, such as those inside Wood Buffalo National Park.

These legendary animals, which are of huge cultural significance to our communities, have survived enormous landscape damage from industrial impacts and other assaults on their range.

But not for much longer. Today, the Ronald Lake bison are an endangered herd that faces an imminent threat to their survival and recovery.

Less than 200 bison remain in this herd. They are now the subject of a recently released federal imminent threat assessment report that highlights the need for the federal government to act. The stakes are high: As Canada's threat assessment notes, “Maintaining the herd's genetics is important for wood bison recovery, as it contributes to the long-term viability of the species and resilience to future environmental change.”

Where governments and industry have historically failed the bison, the Indigenous communities of the region (including the Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Métis and Fort Mckay Métis, among others) have been working furiously behind the scenes on an emergency plan to protect this amazing herd's range as one of the most urgent steps toward ensuring its long-term survival.

This plan focuses most urgently on habitat protection, partnering with key economic drivers of Alberta's economy to safeguard the herd's range. The approach has gained significant support. Alberta is now committed to expanding the Kitaskino Nuwenene Wildland Park, an initiative which will protect habitat critical to helping the herd survive.

Energy companies like

Teck Resources, Cenovus, Imperial, Athabasca Oil and Value Creation have contributed leases to establish that park. Prominent forest companies, Alpac and Northlands, have also participated.

But one company is still holding on to lands that are vital to the recovery and long-term survival of the Ronald Lake bison herd, and has not yet committed to protection.

CNRL, one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, has declined to return a set of oilsands leases that Shell, the former owner of the leases, and CNRL'S peers view as better suited to conservation than energy development, so that this critical part of the herd's range can be added to the Kitaskino Nuwenene Park. These leases contain a high proportion of winter foraging habitat for the herd, which is needed for their survival.

CNRL, unlike so many other pillars of Canada's economy, continues to insist on maintaining these unproductive leases, and may proceed with activities that will be detrimental to the herd's survival.

With a first-quarter profit of $1.38 billion and a positive business outlook, CNRL can well afford to step up and help protect the range of this Canadian icon without resorting to using leases that CNRL'S peers say are uneconomic to mine, but are priceless to the bison, as leverage for a buyout or other concession from taxpayers.

CNRL has made many statements to the public about environmental stewardship, sustainability and working with Indigenous communities, but actions speak louder than words.

CNRL is one of the major threats to the survival of the Ronald Lake bison, but it could just as easily become a partner in helping secure a brighter future for this herd.

Join Indigenous leaders, scientists and citizens in demanding CNRL do better for the bison.

Lisa Tssessaze is director of Athabasca Chipewyan

First Nation Dene Lands and Resource Management.

Melody Lepine is director of the Mikisew Cree First Nation Government and Industry Relation Office.

Dan Stuckless is director of the Fort Mckay Métis Nation Sustainability Centre.

Tammy Riel is executive director of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Association.