Nunavut Wildlife Management Board’s Position on the Protection of Caribou and Sensitive Caribou Habitat
(March 16, 2016 – Iqaluit, Nunavut)
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB or Board) would first like to state that it is not against responsible industrial development. However, the Board is of the view that there must be an appropriate balance between development and protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat. The Board’s clear mandate under Article 5 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is to secure - to the extent reasonably possible - the conservation of wildlife. The NWMB is therefore committed to helping ensure a responsible balance between development in Nunavut and the protection of caribou and sensitive caribou habitat.
Accordingly, after having considered available Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and western scientific information regarding the negative impacts of human land-use activities on calving caribou and habitat, the NWMB recommends the following position with respect to caribou habitat protection:
The NWMB supports full area protection for caribou calving and post-calving grounds (which include key access corridors leading to and from the calving grounds). Full area protection includes the prohibition of industrial activities, including mineral, oil and gas exploration and development, construction of transportation infrastructure and related activities.
The NWMB initially took this position in its May 2014 submission to the Nunavut Planning Commission’s public hearing on the draft Nunavut Land Use Plan, and continues to support this recommendation.
For further information, please contact:
Jason Akearok
NWMB Executive Director
Tel. (867) 975-7300
