Cenovus to spend $32M to restore caribou habitat at oilsands sites

Cenovus is planning a $32-million project that aims to restore the habitat of dwindling caribou populations around its oilsands sites in northeastern Alberta over the next 10 years.

Decades of industry activity in the region have sliced up the boreal forest where the animals live, creating openings that make them more vulnerable to predators.

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The Calgary-based company has been working since 2008 on pilot projects to help protect the threatened species.

The new project aims to replant forests along old access roads and seismic lines in an area covering 3,900 square kilometres.

Cenovus spokesman Jon Mitchell says the industry's footprint has essentially created highways for moose and deer. That in turn attracts predators such as wolves and bears.

Caribou usually avoid the predators by hiding in the trees, so the company will plant some four million seedlings and making sure conditions are right for the new trees to grow.