Northwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan – Major Initiatives on Biodiversity

2004

NWT Biodiversity Team

Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT)

National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication

NWT Biodiversity Action Team Northwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan: major initiatives on biodiversity / NWT Biodiversity Action Team.

Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-7708-0107-2

1. Biological diversity conservation – Northwest Territories. 2. Ecosystem management – Northwest Territories. 3. Environmental policy – Northwest Territories. I. Northwest Territories. Dept. of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development II. Title.

QH77.C3N67 2004 333.95'16'097193 C2004-900928-1

Copies of this publication may be obtained free of charge from: Wildlife and Fisheries Division Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Government of the Northwest Territories 600, 5102-50th Ave. Yellowknife NT X1A 3S8 Fax: 867-873-0293

This document is available on the internet at: http://www.nwtwildlife.rwed.gov.nt.ca/biodiversity/biodiversity_action_plan.htm

Bientôt disponible en français sous le titre: Plan d’action pour la biodiversité aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest – Initiatives majeures sur la biodiversité. Suggested citation: NWT Biodiversity Team. 2004. Northwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan – Major Initiatives on Biodiversity. Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT. 202 pp.

Cover concept and photo credits: Ecosystem function – leaf returning to ground Species as building blocks of biodiversity – insects are part of the most numerous species group (Leucorrhinia hudsonica) Dragonfly, courtesy of Paul Catling

Goal I – Barrenground Caribou, courtesy of Paul Nicklen

Goal II – East Arm of Great Slave Lake Landscape, courtesy of Chris O’Brien

Goal III – At Camp, courtesy of Tessa Macintosh

Goal IV – Polar Bear, courtesy of Paul Nicklen/RWED Collection

Goal V – Northern Perspective of Earth, courtesy of NASA/JPL

Designed and Printed in the Northwest Territories Printed on Recycled Paper

FIRST REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS – MAJOR NWT INITIATIVES ON BIODIVERSITY i

Dear Reader,

It is with pleasure that we present a first report on biodiversity actions in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.

This report describes the numerous initiatives undertaken by organizations and groups working in the NWT that touch directly and indirectly on the goals of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (CBS) and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD). We have tried to prepare a complete and relevant list. Although the list is long, we may have missed some important actions. As we would like to make this list complete, please contact any of the members of our Team to provide input on any missing biodiversity actions or on any errors.

Everyone can use the present list of NWT actions to: • analyse our progress in implementing the UNCBD; • strengthen linkages between our actions and others relevant to the NWT

at the local, regional, national and international levels; • provide opportunities for participation of local and aboriginal communities,

interested individuals and groups, business interests, and the scientific community in implementing the Strategy; and

• help develop national and international progress reports.

Many directives in the CBS are relevant from a national perspective; the relevance of specific actions may vary across regions. It is, therefore, up to the people of the NWT to draw upon the CBS to define our own goals and objectives in biodiversity conservation. How each organization and group will choose to implement the CBS may depend on their own policies, plans, priorities and capabilities.

During the next months we would like to analyse the list, looking to the gaps between commitment and action. This will help us develop potential future actions and opportunities for coordination. We look forward to sharing our findings and hearing your input.

Participation in the Biodiversity Team remains open. The Biodiversity Team would benefit from your participation.

Yours truly,

NWT Biodiversity Team

Message from the NWT Biodiversity Team

NWT Biodiversity Team • Aurora College and Aurora

Research Institute • Canadian Parks and

Wilderness Society • Canadian Wildlife Service, EC • Dene Nation • Department of Fisheries and

Oceans • Ducks Unlimited Canada • Forest Management, RWED • Gwich'in Renewable

Resource Board • Indian and Northern Affairs

Canada • NWT Protected Areas

Secretariat • Parks and Tourism Division,

RWED • Parks Canada, Western Arctic

Field Unit • Parks Canada, NWT

Southwest Field Unit • Sahtu Renewable Resources

Board • Wildlife and Fisheries

Division, RWED • Wildlife Management

Advisory Council (NWT) • World Wildlife Fund Canada

(NWT) • Department of

Transportation, GNWT (observer)

• Canadian Museum of Nature (observer)

See contact information on page 199.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANii FIRST REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS – MAJOR NWT INITIATIVES ON BIODIVERSITY iii

Acknowledgements – List of Contributors The NWT Biodiversity Team would like to acknowledge the efforts of many individuals who provided material, wrote and reviewed text, and helped during the production of this report. We greatly appreciate their support, and look forward to working with them and others on NWT biodiversity actions in the future.

Special thanks to: Jamie Bastedo – who provided the first draft of “The Changing Face of Biodiversity” and wrote many additional sections for the Companion to the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan, soon available on the internet.

Our many thanks to: Adrian D’Hont Adrienne Jones Alasdair Veitch Albert Bourque Alicia Kennedy Anne Gunn Arthur Boutilier Bonni Hrycyk Brenda Hans Brett Elkin Bruce Ashley Bruce Mcdonald Cathie Harper Chris Scotese Cindy Squires Taylor Claudette Fortin Craig Machtans David E. Taylor Deana Lemke Deborah Johnson

Doug Chiperzak Doug Stewart Frederick Lepine Gordon G. Stewart Harvey Gaukel Jane McMullen Jean-Marie Beaulieu Jill Wourms Jim Weber Joanna Tiemessen John Colford John Nagy Judy McLinton Leslie Leong Leslie Wakelyn Lisa Hewitt Lisa Smith Liseanne Forand Lynda Yonge Mara Heder

Marcos Silva Marsha Branigan Mike Gravel Nic Larter Paul Catling Paul Nicklen Richard Popko Rick Maddeaux Robert Gau Robert Mulders Robert Reid Ron Graf Ryan Crago Sonya Saunders Steve Matthews Steven Baryluk Susan McKenzie Tessa Macintosh Todd Slack

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANii FIRST REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS – MAJOR NWT INITIATIVES ON BIODIVERSITY iii

Table of Contents Introduction.............................................................................................. 1 The NWT Biodiversity Team .................................................................. 1

NWT Biodiversity Action Plan ............................................................... 2

Chapter 1 – The Changing Face of Biodiversity .................................. 3 The Big Picture..................................................................... 3

Creating the Canvas for Biodiversity –

Evolution of a Landscape ..................................................... 5

Today’s Landscape................................................................ 8

Forces of Change............................................................... 12

How to Use Chapter 2 – NWT Biodiversity Action Plan ...................... 17

Chapter 2 – Major NWT Initiatives on Biodiversity .......................... 21 Goal I – Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity Species at Risk Initiatives .................................................... 21

Protected Areas Initiatives .................................................. 31

Forest Initiatives ................................................................. 43

Sustainable Use of Wildlife Initiatives.................................. 57

Climate Change Initiatives.................................................. 73

Goal II – Ecological Management Aboriginal and Local Involvement Initiatives ....................... 81

Inventory, Monitoring and Research Initiatives .................... 90

Landscape and Waterscape Initiatives............................... 102

Environmental Accountability and

Emergency Planning Initiatives ......................................... 107

Data and Information Management Initiatives.................. 115

Goal III – Education and Awareness Biodiversity Education Initiatives ....................................... 129

Biodiversity Awareness Initiatives...................................... 138

Goal IV – Incentives and Legislation Biodiversity-related Legislation ......................................... 143

Accords, Agreements and Policies .................................... 155

Goal V – International Cooperation Circumpolar Cooperation Initiatives ................................. 161

Appendices Appendix 1 – A