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Peel Watershed Photo Exhibit comes to Whitehorse
July 30, 2018, Whitehorse – The Peel Watershed Portrait Exhibit is showing at the Yukon Arts Centre from August 1-30, with an opening reception from 5-7 pm on August 1. The exhibit is a collaboration between the Yukon Conservation Society, CPAWS Yukon, the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dün, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Teetl’it Gwich’in Council, and features some of the many people whose lives are intertwined with the Peel Watershed.
For the exhibit, interviews and photoshoots were conducted in the four communities surrounding the Peel Watershed – Mayo, Dawson City, Old Crow, and Teetl’it Zheh (Fort McPherson) – and Whitehorse. After being shown in Ottawa and the Peel communities, the exhibit is now coming to Whitehorse. It features short excerpts from individual interviews alongside photographs by Cathie Archbould and Peter Mather.
“Not many people understand the importance of the land, ecosystems, and the animals on humanity’s well-being. The people of the North live and breathe this reality,” said Cathie Archbould, the exhibit’s portrait photographer.
“It is pretty hard to go into the Peel and not come back with special images,” said Peter Mather, the exhibit’s landscape photographer. “My hope is always that my work will inspire people from all walks of life to visit and cherish the watershed, its adventures and its people.”
The Peel Watershed is within the traditional territories of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dün, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Teetl’it Gwich’in Council in the neighbouring Northwest Territories. For generations, these First Nations have relied on the watershed for both physical and cultural sustenance. The exhibit highlights some of the many people who care for the land and have fought to protect it.
In recent years, the watershed’s future has been at stake during a lengthy legal battle over the land use planning process. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Yukon government must complete meaningful final consultations on a land use plan that protects 80% of the watershed. Since that decisive ruling, the Peel Watershed Planning Commission’s Final Recommended Plan has been under review by the Yukon government. Yukoners will have the opportunity to comment on the final plan during the final consultation period, which is expected to take place in the coming months. Dates have not yet been announced.
The Whitehorse showing of the exhibit is dedicated to the memory of CPAWS Yukon’s founding Executive Director, Juri Peepre. Juri was the driving force behind the early public campaign to protect the Peel Watershed and his legacy will live on through the protection of the lands that he loved so much.
This exhibition is also meant to express eternal gratitude to everyone from the Yukon, Northwest Territories and around the world who has poured passion, time and energy into protecting the Peel Watershed – especially the people of Na Cho Nyäk Dün, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the Teetl’it Gwich’in Council.
The Peel Watershed Portrait Exhibit is free to the public and open Monday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 12 pm to 5 pm, August 1-30. Yukoners are encouraged to view the exhibit all month and share their own stories and images on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #ProtectPeel.
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Media Contacts:
Julia Duchesne, Yukon Conservation Society
Outreach & Communications Director
outreach@yukonconservation.org
867-668-5678
Adil Darvesh, CPAWS Yukon
Communications Coordinator
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
867-383-8080 x9
Stewards of the Yukon
Header Image: Snake River, Tayu Hayward
Written by: Adil Darvesh, Communications Coordinator
The Wilderness Territory. It’s one of the reasons so many have travelled to the Yukon, and one of the reasons so many have stayed. With that comes the responsibility to maintain and protect the areas that we hold dear.
The Peel
Into the Snake River by Tayu Hayward
For decades, CPAWS Yukon has worked to protect the Peel Watershed. A vast, intact ecosystem that is incredibly important for the First Nations and for all people in the Yukon. Providing scenic landscapes and important hunting, fishing and recreational areas; the Peel is the very essence of what Yukon is famous for.
We formed lasting parterships with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dän, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and the Yukon Conservation Society. Together, we took Yukon Government to court in order to ensure the protection of the Peel Watershed.
Last December, when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of upholding the Final Recommended Plan, we were overjoyed. The hard work done to protect the Peel had paid off. Consultations on the Final Recommended Plan are expected to begin in late-summer or fall of 2018, and once again, your voice will be needed to help protect the wildlife, ecosystems and beauty of the Peel Watershed.
It’s taken a long time to get where we are today, but throughout it all, the one constant was the support we received from people like you. You showed up to consultations, water ceremonies, rallies, gatherings, and prayer circles. The roller coaster through the court system was only possible because our supporters and our allies had our backs
From Left to Right: Dana Tiza-Tramm (Vuntut Gwitchin), Chief Roberta Joseph (Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in), Chris Rider (CPAWS), Jimmy Johnny (Na-Cho Nyk Dän), Robert Alexie Sr. (Tetlit Gwich’in), Frank Patterson (Na-Cho Nyk Dän), Thomas Berger, Troy Suzuki, Elizabeth Moses (Na-Cho Nyk Dän), Margaret Rosling, Gladys Netro (Vuntut Gwitchin), Tim Gerberding, Darren Bullen (Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in), Angie Joseph-Rear (Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in), Simon Mervyn (Na-Cho Nyk Dän), Chief Bruce Charlie (Vuntut Gwitchin), Irene Johnny (Na-Cho Nyk Dän), Christina Macdonald (YCS), Clara Van Bibber (Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in). Photo by: Justin van Leeuwen
As a result of this success, CPAWS Yukon will continue to pursue fair, democratic and sustainable protection of our wilderness for all to appreciate. Over the past few months, we’ve been able to grow and have a greater capacity to help different areas in the Yukon. While we are still committed to ensuring that the Peel Watershed stays protected, we are also looking towards advocating for other incredibly important issues throughout the territory.
The Porcupine caribou herd
Since 2017, we have been working to support the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in their efforts to advocate for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, and the Porcupine caribou herd.
This vast environment, located along the border of Alaska and the Yukon, is integral for numerous species of flora and fauna, and plays a critical role in the quality of life for the Gwich’in and other Indigenous peoples across northern Canada and Alaska. Barren-ground caribou are a threatened species that is in severe decline across North America and this is our opportunity to help protect one of the last remaining healthy herds. Currently, the U.S. government is planning to lease out areas of the Arctic Refuge for oil and gas development in the birthing grounds of the Porcupine caribou, which would have negative impacts on their herd. Due to the nature of the Porcupine caribou’s migration over the international border, this directly affects the Yukon. The Porcupine caribou are a source of food and resources for the Gwich’in people, and they need your voices to help tell the U.S. government that the Arctic Refuge is no place for oil and gas.
Porcupine caribou and calf by Peter Mather
Land Use Planning
Development is altering landscapes across the Yukon. In the face of this growth and change, land use planning is one of the best opportunities we have to protect critical wildlife habitat and areas of high ecological importance.
Very simply, land use planning provides a road map for how land and resources will be used, managed and protected. In other words, planning determines if and how landscapes will be preserved or transformed. In the Yukon, land use planning takes place at many scales, from small individual development sites to entire regions, such as the Peel Watershed. As Yukon’s voice for wilderness, we will continue to provide meaningful input into land use planning and ensure that the process reflects ecological voices, is accessible to the public, and is informed by science and Indigenous knowledge.
Climate Change
It’s no secret that climate change is the biggest issue of our era. With such drastic changes to the climate in a short period of time, it has the potential to undermine all of our conservation work. We will continue to address and be mindful of climate change in all the work that we do.
Stay Tuned
This transition is a very exciting time for us. We are aiming to maintain the beauty of the Yukon and advocate for wilderness protection by collaborating with members of the First Nations and the public. We want to thank you for all of your support along the way, and we look forward to helping the people of the Yukon protect our wilderness for all. To learn more browse through our new and improved website at cpawsyukon.org, or email info@cpawsyukon.org. Add us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to interact with us and follow along on our journey.
Annual Parks Report outlines roadmap for meeting land and freshwater protection targets in the Yukon and across Canada
July 17, 2018, Whitehorse, Yukon – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) released its annual Parks Report today, What’s Next: Parks and Protected Areas to 2020 and Beyond, which recommends how governments in Canada – federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous – can work together to almost double our current protected areas, to achieve our international commitment to protect at least 17% of our landscape by 2020, and to plan for the longer-term work needed to reverse the catastrophic and ongoing decline in nature. Canada has the biggest opportunity in a generation to protect nature – and this report provides a roadmap for action.
The commitment by all jurisdictions in Canada to work together to achieve the 2020 protected area target, along with the $1.3 billion investment in conservation in the 2018 federal budget, creates an unprecedented opportunity for Canada to safeguard nature in the spirit of reconciliation between Indigenous governments and Crown governments, and between all peoples in Canada and nature.
“For many Yukoners, the fact that we’re surrounded by wilderness is what makes our home so special,” says Chris Rider, Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon. “Unfortunately, this is something we could lose, because only a fraction of the land is formally protected. The good news is that because we have so many natural spaces, the Yukon has the opportunity to be the leader in protected areas in Canada. That’s something we should aspire to.
Diverse voices across the country are now calling for action on protected areas, and momentum is growing. With 2020 right around the corner, people are asking, “can Canada do this?” “Can our country almost double the protection of our lands and freshwaters in 2 years?” The answer is YES. In the report, CPAWS identifies places in each jurisdiction where a considerable amount of collaborative work has already been done on proposed protected areas.
With the 2020 target fast approaching, CPAWS makes the following recommendations — that federal, provincial, and territorial governments:
- Demonstrate their commitment to almost double Canada’s protected areas by publicly announcing the areas they intend to protect by 2020 to contribute to meeting the target;
- Develop a western science and Indigenous knowledge-based plan by 2020 for completing an effective network of interconnected protected areas that will act as a foundation for conserving nature in the face of climate change;
- Make a clear commitment to adhere to recognized standards for the protection of nature, including those developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas;
- Ensure conservation funding from federal Budget 2018 is allocated primarily to support the creation of new protected areas by federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and other partners; and
- Support Indigenous governments’ work to create Indigenous protected areas.
The report also includes recommendations for key short-term actions in the Yukon, including implementing the Peel River Watershed Land Use Commission’s Final Recommended Plan, and re-establishing the Dawson Land Use Plan.
CPAWS is ready to work with federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments on protecting our most iconic landscapes and the wildlife that call them home.
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Read the report: https://cpawsyukon.org/parks-and-protected-areas-to-2020/
Read the executive summary: https://cpawsyukon.org/whats-next-executive-summary/
Media contact:
Adil Darvesh, Communication Coordinator
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
867-393-8080 x9
Background
Canada was the first industrialized country to sign onto the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international agreement signed by over 195 countries worldwide. In 2010, as a party to the CBD, Canada pledged to take certain actions to safeguard biodiversity, including protecting at least 17% of the country’s lands and inland waters by 2020. Protecting nature is one of the best proven solutions to slowing the biodiversity crisis.
For over 55 years, CPAWS has been working with all levels of government, and other partners across the country to protect more of Canada’s public lands. As the only nationwide charity dedicated solely to the protection of our public lands and water, and with chapters in almost every province and territory across Canada, we are uniquely positioned to help governments protect what nature really needs.
Protected areas are important to conserve wildlife and wilderness, as well as provide clean air and water for all Canadians, store carbon, and play a major role in improving our health and well-being. They also make economic sense. Protected areas around the world generate US$600 billion per year in direct spending, while costing less than US$10 billion per year to manage.
Canadians have made their voices clear: There is no place for oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
OTTAWA (Tuesday, June 19, 2018) — The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Yukon Chapter (CPAWS Yukon) and Nature Canada together are making sure the U.S. Government knows there is no place for oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Today is the final day of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s public scoping period in advance of its environmental review of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Refuge. More than 12,000 Canadians have submitted comments and signatures to the U.S. Government, urging the cross-border impacts of oil and gas drilling be addressed.
Every spring the longest land mammal migration on Earth takes place as the Porcupine caribou herd crosses the Yukon and Northwest Territories to give birth in the Arctic Refuge. The Trump administration’s push for oil and gas extraction would strike the heart of these calving grounds, which could have disastrous impacts on the health of the herd and on the Gwich’in communities that rely on caribou for their culture and livelihood.
Quotes:
Dana Tizya-Tramm, Councilor, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation: “From a people that understands resources extremely well by living in the unforgiven environments and climates of the Arctic North, we see the unilateral development of the wellspring of Arctic ecosystems as a significant threat to indigenous peoples, the lands, animals, and our collective futures. It must be known to produce oil and gas from this area can only be done so by manipulating environmental law and trampling human, and indigenous rights.”
Brook Brisson, Senior Staff Attorney at Trustees for Alaska: “Protecting the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge is of international importance. The Porcupine caribou herd migrates through Canada to return to the coastal plain in Alaska to calve and replenish themselves each year. Borders do not mean anything to their survival, but habitat and protected ecosystems do. American laws recognize the international importance of the wildlife in this region, and international agreements give Canadians an important voice in this process. We will ensure that the laws and agreements within and between our countries are upheld.”
Chris Rider, Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon : “The impacts from oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge would not stop at the U.S. – Canada border. Drilling in the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds could have devastating impacts across Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. It’s critical that Canadian’s stand with the Gwich’in and say no to drilling in the Arctic Refuge.”
Graham Saul, Executive Director of Nature Canada: “It is critical we work alongside CPAWS Yukon and the Vuntut Gwitchin to ensure Canadian voices are included in this environmental review. Today’s submission of 12,000 Canadian signatures and comments is an incredible opportunity for Canadians to speak directly to the U.S. government about the serious and irreversible impact oil and gas development would have on one of the last, healthy barren-ground caribou herds on earth. It is Nature Canada’s mission to protect our wildlife areas and countless species that depend on this habitat. We have been doing this for more than 75 years and have helped protect more than 63 million acres of wildlife areas.
The Arctic Refuge is home over 200 species of birds, which migrate to six continents and every state in the United States. The Arctic Refuge provides important habitat for polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves and wolverines. It was established by President Eisenhower in 1960 and expanded by President Carter in 1980. In 2017, a provision included in President Trump’s tax overhaul opened parts of the Refuge’s Coastal Plain to oil and gas development.
High-quality images of the Arctic Refuge available for media use:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/14m9LLrjivux_uTByUhEDJeatPPnN5g31
For comment please contact:
Dana Tizya-Tramm
Councilor, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
(867) 333-4335 (cell)
Adil Darvesh
CPAWS Yukon
867-393-8080 x 9
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
Janet Weichel McKenzie
Nature Canada
(613) 808-4642 (cell)
jweichelmckenze@gmail.com
Yukon Conservation Society and CPAWS Yukon call for public comments on Arctic Refuge drilling
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, June 13,2018 – The Yukon Conservation Society and CPAWS Yukon are joining together and urging the U.S. Government to consider the transboundary impacts of oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now is a critical time for Yukoners to voice their support for the Porcupine caribou herd and the Gwich’in. Less than one week remains before the deadline for public comments in the Bureau of Land Management’s scoping period.
The proposed oil and gas extraction would fall in the heart of the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds, which could have disastrous impacts on the health of the herd and on the Gwich’in communities that rely on caribou for their culture and livelihood. “Caribou are an iconic northern animal and a vital part of Gwich’in life,” says Mike Walton, executive director of YCS. “The United States must consult with Canada and the Gwich’in about drilling the calving grounds. Canadians are concerned about the dangers of pursuing oil in caribou country.”
“The Trump administration is attempting to condense its environmental review into an impossibly short time frame,” says Malkolm Boothroyd of CPAWS Yukon. “We have to demand the most comprehensive review possible, and hold them to account if they try to cut corners.” The coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge was opened for development through a provision included within Trump’s controversial tax bill. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has begun the environmental review process of oil and gas lease sales, and is nearing the end of its 60-day public scoping period.
The Gwich’in Steering Committee, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, EarthJustice, Nature Canada, Environment America, and The Wilderness Society are among the organizations campaigning for the Arctic Refuge’s protection. In May, investors managing over $2.5 trillion USD in global assets called on the oil and gas industry to leave the Arctic Refuge alone. Yukoners can add their support at cpawsyukon.org/porcupine-caribou until June 19th or by writing in person at CPAWS Yukon’s Arctic Refuge Open House: Monday June 18th from 4-6pm in the CPAWS Office at 506 Steele Street.
Contacts:
Adil Darvesh
Communications Coordinator
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
867-393-8080 x9
Julia Duchesne
Outreach & Communications Director
outreach@yukonconservation.org
867-668-5678
References:
[1] Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Title II, Section 20001:
https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1/BILLS-115hr1enr.pdf
[2] U.S. Bureau of Land Management; Coastal Plain Environmental Impact Statement
https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/alaska/coastal-plain-eis
[3] National Committee says barren-ground caribou are threatened; Yukon News
https://www.yukon-news.com/news/national-committee-says-barren-ground-caribou-are-threatened/
[4] Species at Risk Public Registry: Caribou Barren-ground population; COSEWIC
http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=1341
[5] Effects of Petroleum Development on Terrain Preferences of Calving Caribou; Arctic
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c4b2/4362c9cf4af2aeb42fce651422aa8a3b88c7.pdf
[6] Investors urge fossil fuel firms to shun Trump’s arctic drilling plans; The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/14/investors-urge-fossil-fuel-firms-shun-trump-arctic-drilling-plans-alaskan-wilderness
Encouraged in Anchorage
Header Image: Anonymous Security Guard
Written by: Malkolm Boothroyd, Campaigns Coordinator
The US Government must of worked really hard to find such an unappealing photo of the Arctic Refuge. #savethegravel
The fingerprints of the fossil fuel industry cover Anchorage, Alaska. BP logos decorate the airport and Exxon Mobil’s name is carved on the plaques beside commemorative trees. The city’s convention centre sits in the shadow of the ConocoPhillips skyscraper. That’s why I was shocked that nobody from any of the oil companies showed up to the convention centre to testify in favour of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the heart of the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds.
Indigenous leaders and environmental campaigners have so successfully illustrated the importance of the Arctic Refuge for human rights and the Porcupine caribou, that some of the most powerful oil companies are wary of associating themselves with the issue. Instead contractors and industry lobbyist groups spoke in their place, reiterating talking points of “responsible oil and gas development,” “world class industrial safety” and “I’m a third-generation Alaskan” with such predictability that I wished I’d drawn up bingo cards. Still, we outnumbered the oil and gas advocates almost two-to-one at the hearing.
Indigenous people travelled from as far away as Kaktovik, St. Paul Island and Old Crow to speak for Indigenous rights and protection of the Arctic Refuge. Chris Rider and I made the trip from Whitehorse, to urge the US Government to include transboundary issues be included in the scope of the review. (Add your voice here, it will be super helpful!) Chris spoke about the vulnerability of caribou to industrial development in their calving grounds. I described childhood experiences travelling in the Refuge, and about how caribou, bears, whales and migratory birds do not recognize the Alaska-Canada border.
I left Anchorage empowered. Hearing the powerful words of so many Indigenous leaders, and meeting with the Alaska Wilderness League, The Wilderness Society, Trustees for Alaska and Earthjustice reminded me about how strong our movement is. If I was an oil company I’d be worried too.
Malkolm Boothroyd, CPAWS Yukon Programs Coordinator, speaking at the public consultations in Anchorage, Alaska
Chris Rider, CPAWS Yukon Executive Director, speaking at the public consultation in Anchorage, Alaska
Developing a much needed wetland policy
Header Image: Moose, Randi Newton
Written by: Randi Newton, Conservation Coordinator
This spring the Government of Yukon started developing a policy for wetland management in the territory. While it seems long overdue, CPAWS is nonetheless excited to be contributing to the process. We hope to see a robust, conservation-focused policy that will fill a large gap in protecting Yukon’s wetlands and provide land managers with a consistent approach for making decisions. Right now most wetlands in the territory are protected only by their remoteness, not by a formal policy, and there is no straightforward roadmap for wetland protection when wetlands fall in the path of development, resource extraction or infrastructure.
HOW IS THE POLICY BEING DEVELOPED?
The wetland policy is in the very early stages of development and it should be complete by early 2020. Between now and then, we’ve been told the government will work with First Nations and look to Yukoners for input. We will keep our eye on opportunities for engagement and, in the meantime, you can come chat wetlands with us at the CPAWS office if you’d like to learn more about what we’d like to see in the policy. As one component of policy development, the Government of Yukon has invited various organizations to participate in a series of roundtable meetings and work on elements of the policy. We recently took part in the first stage of these meetings and we were struck by the collaborative approach being used to develop the policy. The meeting room was filled with people with a wide diversity of perspectives and values, including representatives from First Nations, mining, oil and gas, forestry, different government departments, environmental and conservation organizations, renewable resource councils, and municipalities.
As part of the roundtable meetings, people were asked to write down, in about six words, why this conversation about wetlands mattered to them and what their bottom-line interest in the policy was. As you can see from the sample below, answers were diverse and sometimes conflicting.
- Thoughtful protection, not chipping away, project-by-project
- Need to be able to mine and reclaim land
- Wetlands provide life for all people Ensuring habitat protection and species persistence for future generations
- Integral to ecosystem resiliency and food security
- Wetlands have sustained First Nations for thousands of years
- The future of wetlands is ours
- Yukon’s environmental and economic needs are met
With this many voices in the room, will it be challenging to collaboratively work on a wetland policy? Absolutely. In fact, it is likely there will be elements that the group will not agree on. However, we are also optimistic that people will learn from each other and work to build as much of the policy as possible in a collaborative way. Our hope is that the government is committed to applying this work and creating a forward-thinking, conservation-focused policy that turns the tide of wetland loss. Although challenging, the time to act is now and making tough decisions on a policy will never get easier.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING WETLANDS
Yukoners value the many crucial functions that wetlands provide. They are a rich source of biodiversity and are home to both rare and common mammals, birds, fish, insects, amphibians and plants. Wetlands help to sustain cherished ways of life, including activities like hunting, fishing, trapping and foraging. Many wetlands are the site of past and current First Nation camps and travel routes. People also visit wetlands for spiritual recharge and pastimes like hiking, bird watching and photography.
As long as they remain intact, wetlands will continue to shape the Yukon landscape and the ecological processes that sustain it. For example, some wetlands in the territory contain depths of peat layers that are thousands of years old. These deep organic layers trap significant amounts of carbon that would otherwise find its way into the atmosphere. Wetlands are also natural reservoirs that replenish groundwater supplies, buffer against flooding and release water in times of drought. By storing sediment and contaminants, wetlands act as natural environmental filters.
WHAT SHOULD THE WETLAND POLICY INCLUDE?
Certain elements are critical if the policy will be truly effective at protecting wetlands.
- No-net loss of wetland functions. Wetlands are complex ecosystems and they provide many functions, including habitat, water regulation and carbon storage. If development is allowed to impact these functions, impacts must be fully offset through restoration or reclamation. Otherwise, we risk losing wetlands little by little, project by project.
- Protection of important wetlands. Some wetlands are so valuable for ecological or cultural reasons, or impossible to restore, that they should be completely off limits to development and disturbance. The wetland policy needs to include a way to identify and designate these off-limit wetlands.
- Clear mitigation hierarchy. Realistically, not all wetlands in the territory will be protected from development. However, the policy needs a clear hierarchy of actions so that the first priority is to avoid wetland impacts, the second is to minimize impacts, and the third is to offset impacts. It would be a mistake to rely on offsetting impacts through reclamation, since some wetland types like fens and bogs take thousands of years to form.
- An ecosystems approach. The policy needs to include a framework to consider and protect the roles that wetlands play at a landscape scale. These critical functions can be missed and then eroded if wetlands are only managed during the review of individual projects.
- Wetland inventory and research. Wetlands are generally poorly mapped and understood in the territory. The policy should commit to future research and inventories to help us better understand their critical ecological and cultural values.
- Implementation strategy. The wetland policy is only the starting point for protecting wetlands in the Yukon and it must include a strong roadmap for implementation. This will help ensure that the policy is clear and achievable, and that resources and capacity are in place to support its goals.
CPAWS is pleased to see the government take this important step towards conserving the territory’s wetlands. Yukoners know just how valuable wetlands are and, with the right policy framework in place, we can ensure they will persist for generations to come.