Cariboo

Regional Overview

The Cariboo region is located in the central interior of British Columbia. It is situated between the Cariboo Mountains to the east and reaches west across the Fraser River plateau to the Coast Mountains. Major cities in the Cariboo region include 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel.

The geography of the Cariboo region is diverse and varies considerably over short distances. It encompasses the Cariboo and Coast Mountain ranges, the Central Plateau and numerous lakes and rivers. 

Major rivers that bisect the region include the Fraser, Chilcotin, Chilko, Quesnel, Cariboo and Horsefly.  The vegetation of the region also varies ranging from dry grasslands to spruce, pine, and fir forests at low- to mid-elevations. Inland temperate rain forests and alpine forests are also found in the region.

The Cariboo region is rich with the indigenous history and culture of the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, and Dakelh First Nations.

Activities and Trends

The predominant activities within the Cariboo region include forestry, agriculture and ranching. Activities including mining and mineral exploration, transportation, energy, and recreational activities such as fishing and hunting also occur in the region.

In recent years, the Cariboo region has experienced several major disturbances, including numerous large-scale wildfires and flooding. The region has also experienced significant forest beetle infestations, which has resulted in salvage harvesting across much of the region.

Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of these events in the future and increase summer drought. Further research and planning are needed to increase the region’s resilience to climate change and to address the impacts of decades of forest harvest management. 

Work Underway

As part of the Cumulative Effects Framework, there are 6 values that are undergoing assessment within the Cariboo region. These include:

1. Forest Biodiversity
2. Hydrologic Stability
3. Grizzly Bear
4. Moose
5. Mule Deer
6. Pine Marten

Implementation of the cumulative effects framework in the Cariboo region builds on the demonstration project completed in the Cariboo-Chilcotin area.