The Conference of Management Authorities, established under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act to manage and recover species at risk in the Northwest Territories (NWT), has reached consensus to list boreal caribou and Peary caribou for another 10 years as Threatened species on the NWT List of Species at Risk.
Both species were first listed as Threatened in the NWT in 2014. The listing terms were extended today by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The decision to re-list these species was based on the status assessments and feedback received through public engagement.
The Recovery Strategy for the Boreal Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Northwest Territories, completed in 2017, will continue to provide recovery goals and objectives for boreal caribou. A 2022 progress report documents the significant work that is already underway to conserve and recover boreal caribou in the NWT.
Recovery planning is ongoing for Peary caribou in the NWT. For efficiency and to avoid duplication, the Conference of Management Authorities has agreed to adopt the federal Recovery Strategy for the Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) in Canada, which was completed in September 2022. The proposed NWT recovery strategy includes updated information on Peary caribou and highlights work that is already underway to conserve Peary caribou in the NWT. Members of the public are invited to provide comments on the proposed NWT recovery strategy for Peary caribou until August 31, 2023.
Adding a species to the NWT List of Species at Risk does not mean harvesting must stop. Keeping boreal and Peary caribou on the NWT List of Species at Risk does not automatically change quotas, by-laws or regulations already in place. Rather, successful conservation of these species will depend on the commitment and cooperation of many different groups with responsibility for wildlife management in the NWT, together with NWT residents and visitors.
For more information contact:
Jody Pellissey, Chairperson
Conference of Management Authorities
c/o NWT Species at Risk Secretariat
Phone: (867) 767-9237 ext. 53216
Email: SARA@gov.nt.ca
Background
- The Conference of Management Authorities (CMA) is the group of wildlife co-management boards and governments that share management responsibility for the conservation and recovery of species at risk in the NWT. All CMA decisions are made by consensus of the Management Authorities.
- The Management Authorities for boreal caribou in the NWT are:
- The Management Authorities for Peary caribou in the NWT are:
- The NWT Species at Risk Committee (SARC) is an independent committee of experts that assesses the status of species in the NWT and makes recommendations on listing under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.
- SARC first assessed boreal and Peary caribou as Threatened species in 2012. Both species were reassessed in May 2022 with no change to their status.
- An assessment of Threatened in the NWT means boreal and Peary caribou are likely to become Endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to their extirpation or extinction.