yukon

July 27 2018

Stewards of the Yukon

CPAWS Yukon Blog blog, communications, 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.

March 28 2018

Yellowstone to Yukon

CPAWS Yukon Protecting our Wildlife to, yellowstone, yukon

Header Image: Peter Mather

CPAWS Yukon was one of the founding members of this international initiative, which seeks to preserve and restore native plants, animals and wilderness throughout the 3,200-kilometre-long mountainous spine of the Rockies that links Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to the Yukon’s Peel Watershed.

The joint Canada-US initiative takes a scientific approach to wilderness preservation and is internationally recognized as one of the planet’s leading mountain conservation initiatives.

THE THREAT

Development pressure throughout the Rocky Mountains continues to build as oil and gas and mining efforts expand and more people move into the region, building more roads, fences, subdivisions and other development that fragments ecosystems and lessens biodiversity.

For more info on the Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative click here.

WHAT CPAWS IS DOING

As a member of the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative, CPAWS Yukon is working to protect areas like the Peel Watershed. It is also encouraging thoughtful and inclusive land-use planning throughout the territory, demanding governments respect citizens’ legitimate support for preservation of important wilderness regions and serving as a watchdog to make sure the existing parks and protected areas are respected and maintained.

March 28 2018

Protected Areas

CPAWS Yukon Protecting our Wilderness areas, protected, yukon

Header Image: Peter Mather

Parks and protected areas are critical for preserving sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitats. They ensure that regions of high conservation value are maintained today, tomorrow and for future generations. CPAWS Yukon is dedicated to creating new protected areas and wilderness corridors.

Canada is a pioneer when it comes to parks, but our great wilderness is under threat from industry, population growth, tourism, climate change and other human disturbances that are chipping away at the landscape and putting species in peril. For humans to continue to thrive on this planet, we need set aside land where industry, roads and non-renewable resource extraction are limited.

OUR GOAL

Protected areas are important tools for preserving the 23 distinct eco-regions found in the Yukon, from the Southern Lakes to the Blackstone Uplands of Tombstone to the Old Crow Flats and the Beaufort Sea in the north. CPAWS Yukon is committed to the creation of national or territorial parks, habitat protection areas, and other areas with protected status that will help to achieve our conservation goals and ensure Yukon’s rich diversity is preserved.

At the international level, Canada has committed to protecting 17% of its terrestrial area and 10% of its marine area through the United Nations Aichi targets. CPAWS Yukon encourages our federal and territorial governments to go beyond these targets and to be leaders in conservation.

PUTTING PROTECTION FIRST

We are an active participant in consultation processes for the establishment of new parks and protected areas, and we provide feedback on the review of existing park management plans. We believe strongly that parks must focus on their primary mandate of ecological protection by following management plans and regulations that will safeguard wildlife and plants and their habitat.

We recognize that you cannot have protection without people, and that Yukon First Nations have been able to sustain their livelihoods for thousands of years, while servings as stewards of the land. Thus we support approaches to park management that balance sustainable uses of the land, alongside ecological, spiritual and cultural values. We also look for ways that protected areas can facilitate responsible wildlife viewing, environmental education and authentic wilderness experiences, thereby helping to drive the economy. We believe that local communities, and in particular First Nations, can benefit from this conservation economy.

YUKON PARKS

National Parks

The Yukon has four national parks:

Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park

This national historical park is operated by the National Park Service that commemorates the Gold Rush of the late 1890s. This encompasses the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, the Thirty Mile section of the Yukon River and significant historic sites in Dawson City. Click here to learn more.

Ivvavik National Park

Ivvavik National Park is managed by Parks Canada and is an important calving ground for caribou in northern Yukon. Click here to learn more.

Vuntut National Park

Vuntut National Park is located adjacent to Ivvavik National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. It’s key inhabitants include caribou, foxes, wolves, lynxes and minks. It is managed by Parks Canada. Click here to learn more.

Kluane National Park and Reserve

Kluane National Park is found in the southwest of the Yukon, near the Alaskan border. It includes the highest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan. It is managed by Parks Canada. Click here to learn more.

The Yukon has four territorial parks:

Tombstone Territorial Park

Tombstone Territorial Park is found in central Yukon and covers 2,200 km². It lies within the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. Click here to learn more.

Herschel Island – Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park

This park is found in the Beaufort Sea which lies off the northern coast of the Yukon. It is the Yukon’s only offshore island. It is in the traditional territory of the Inuvialuit who have used the island for thousands of years. Click here to learn more.

Coal River Springs Territorial Park

Found in the southern Yukon, Coal River Springs is rich in diversity of plants and animals due to the year-round flowing water. The park was created by the Government of Yukon, Liard First Nation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Click here to learn more.

Ni”iinlii Njik (Fishing Branch)

Spanning 6,500 km², this park is jointly managed by the Government of Yukon and the Vuntut Gwitchin Government. It consists of limestone caves, salmon runs, grizzly bears and the Porcupine caribou migration. Click here to learn more.

Dàadzàii Vàn (Summit Lake – Bell River)

Dàadzàii Vàn Territorial Park is a network of ancient travel routes and a gathering place, bringing Gwich’in and visitors together along the Chiiveenjik (Bell River). Click here to learn more.

Kusawa

Kusawa Territorial Park has a distinct cultural and natural history. The park is within the Traditional Territories of the Carcross/Tagish, Champagne and Aishihik, and Kwänlin Dün First Nations. Click here to learn more.

Agay Mene

Located on the traditional territory of Carcross/Tagish and the Teslin Tlingit Council, this park is identified as a Natural Environment Park. Click here to learn more.

Asi Keyi

There are no roads, established trails or designated routes to Asi Keyi. The park stretches from the Donjek River west to the Alaska border and from Kluane National Park north to the Kluane Range. Click here to learn more.