The Northwest Territories (NWT) Conference of Management Authorities (CMA), established under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act to manage and recover species at risk in the NWT, has reached consensus to adopt the Management Plan for the Dolphin and Union Caribou in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. This document was developed through extensive collaboration between management partners and consultations with affected communities and jurisdictions with responsibilities for the management of Dolphin and Union caribou in the NWT and Nunavut.
Dolphin and Union caribou were added to the NWT List of Species at Risk on March 19, 2015 as a species of Special Concern. The Management Plan for the Dolphin and Union Caribou in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut describes management objectives for Dolphin and Union caribou in both the NWT and Nunavut. The management plan meets the requirements for a management plan under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act, the requirement for a national management plan under the federal Species at Risk Act, and meets management needs for the species in Nunavut. Development of the final management plan respected co-management processes legislated by the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
The management plan was prepared jointly by the Government of Nunavut and the Government of the Northwest Territories, in cooperation with the Government of Canada and co-management partners. Co-management partners involved in this process include: Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Kitikmeot Regional Wildlife Board, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Kugluktuk Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), Ekaluktutiak HTO, Omingmaktok HTO, Burnside HTO, Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), Inuvialuit Game Council, Ulukhaktok Hunters and Trappers Committee (HTC), and the Paulatuk HTC.
The management plan includes appropriate recommended objectives and approaches for the management of Dolphin and Union caribou, as well as descriptions of threats and positive influences. The management plan will help Management Authorities decide what actions to take, how to prioritize their work, and how to allocate their resources in order to manage Dolphin and Union caribou.
The signed consensus agreement articulating this adoption was provided to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on December 31, 2017. The Minister has until March 31, 2018 to publish the management plan.
The CMA has until December 31, 2018 to develop a consensus agreement on the implementation of the management plan. This 'implementation agreement' will outline how the NWT Management Authorities for Dolphin and Union caribou intend to implement the management plan.
Additional species information and supporting documentation are available at: http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/CMA/SarList
Background
- The CMA was established under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act to make decisions on listing, conservation, management, and recovery of species that may be at risk of disappearing from the NWT.
- Wildlife management authority in the NWT is shared between the Government of the Northwest Territories (through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and wildlife co-management boards/governments established through settled land claim agreements.
- The NWT Management Authorities for Dolphin and Union caribou in the NWT are the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT) and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
- The CMA brings together all of these organizations (called 'Management Authorities') to make decisions on listing, conserving, managing, and recovering species that may be at risk of disappearing from the NWT.
- All CMA decisions are made by consensus.