Wek’èezhı̀ı Interim Boreal Caribou Range Plan Released

In collaboration with its co-management partners the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has put into place the first of five regional Boreal caribou range plans to support conservation and recovery efforts in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Developed as a commitment under the environmental assessment for the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road and the NWT Boreal Caribou Recovery Strategy the interim plan incorporates Indigenous, local and scientific knowledge to identify which habitat is most important to Boreal caribou in the area.

The plan proposes management classes for identified areas. It would ensure an appropriate level of protection needed in each area to conserve Boreal caribou, balance development needs, and define strategies for dealing with natural disturbances.

This is consistent with the Boreal Caribou Range Planning Framework (2019), which forms the foundation for five regional range plans to meet the need to recover and conserve Boreal caribou in the NWT. 

The completion of the regional range plans will fulfill key commitments in both the NWT and national Boreal caribou recovery strategies.  This work is being done collaboratively with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, renewable resources boards and other partners across the NWT and is supported by a Section 11 Agreement between the GNWT and the federal government.

The interim plan will be in effect through at least 2023 when a final Boreal caribou range plan for Wek’èezhìi and four other regional plans across the NWT are scheduled to be completed.

Quote(s)

“Protecting and conserving Boreal caribou, while balancing the need for development, is an important priority for this government. I am confident this plan is a solid foundation for managing Boreal caribou habitat in the area, while enabling sustainable development. We will continue to work with our co-management partners to develop the final regional plan to support healthy Boreal caribou within the Wek’èezhı̀ı region.”

-Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Quick facts

• The plan answers key questions within the Wek’èezhı̀ı region:
• Which areas are most important to the Boreal caribou?
• Where are there current development projects or interests?
• Where are the areas of higher resource development potential?
• What existing land protections are already in place?
• The three management classes used are:
• Basic – Development can proceed under normal conditions; wildfire management follows existing decision-making processes 
• Enhanced – Development is more carefully managed; extra fire management actions are considered
• Intensive – New habitat disturbances in the area are limited as much as possible; key patches of caribou habitat are increased in priority during firefighting where possible
• The GNWT worked with several governments and organizations to develop the draft plan:
  • Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • North Slave Métis Alliance
  • Yellowknives Dene First Nation
  • Wek’èezhı̀ı Renewable Resources Board
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • All GNWT departments
• The Tłı̨chǫ Government and North Slave Métis Alliance authored sections of the plan detailing how they documented Indigenous knowledge of boreal caribou to support development of the plan.
• Public engagement on the plan was completed from August to October 2021. Feedback was shared with the Wek’èezhı̀ı Renewable Resources Board for consideration. The final plan was then approved by the Board and accepted by Cabinet.

Related links

• Wek’èezhı̀ı Interim Boreal Caribou Range Plan
• Boreal Caribou Range Planning Framework
• Boreal caribou information

For media requests, please contact:

Mike Westwick

Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

Environment and Natural Resources

Government of the Northwest Territories

Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca