Conservation
We work to ensure that Yukon's fish and wildlife have safe habitat and healthy populations, despite pressures from human development. We support humane, sustainable and responsible harvesting and consider land use planning as critical to determining how land should be protected, developed and managed in the territory.
Our Vision
We envision a Yukon where fish and wildlife thrive in safe and healthy habitat, a Yukon where sustainable and ethical hunting and gathering persist indefinitely and a Yukon where land use plans that embody the spirit and intent of reconciliation are completed for the entire territory.
As part of our conservation work, our goals are separated into two key priority areas: Land Use Planning and Wildlife
Land Use Planning Goals
1. Land Use Planning
2. Wetlands
3. Road Ecology
Be a valued and respected voice in the development of all Yukon LUPs (currently the Dawson plan)
4. Local Area Planning
Participate in development of Local Area Plans (such as the upcoming Fish Lake Plan)
Be a lead in the effort to afford wetlands special conservation status in the Yukon
5. Sub-Regional Planning
Drive sub-regional plans (which have been industry driven thus far) towards conservation
Present the idea and concepts around Road Ecology in every Yukon community to drive better access decisions
6. Off-Road Vehicles
Off Road Vehicles use is guided by comprehensive regulations
Wildlife Goals
1. Moose
Encourage adoption of the tools in the Moose Harvest Framework so that an adaptive management system for Moose can be implemented
3. Grizzly bears
Grizzlies are seen as valuable contributors to the Yukon’s biocultural diversity and are no longer killed except for ceremonial purposes
2. Caribou
Land use and harvest decisions preserve the Yukon’s uniquely intact suite of woodland and migratory caribou herds
4. Salmon
Salmon runs are restored in the long-term and in the intermediate, we contribute to a successful Salmon Summit
Background
The Yukon is alive with fully functioning, healthy ecosystems. The landscape supports a diversity of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, moose, sheep, marmots and pileated woodpeckers. Eight tree species, including the white spruce and trembling aspen, and 38 species of freshwater fish, including the arctic grayling and inconnu, make their home here. The mighty Yukon River and its tributaries support one of the longest salmon runs in the world. While overall species diversity is not high, an unusual concentration of rare species is centered in the far north. The Yukon Territory has more vascular plants of global conservation concern than any jurisdiction in the country. These species have limited ranges tied to the areas of land which remained ice-free during glacial periods.
Key Issues
Although the Yukon territory supports a full range of native wildlife species, human developments in the form of roads, logging, mining and oil and gas projects and residential sprawl are impacting these fragile northern ecosystems and putting wildlife populations at risk. The Yukon Conservation Society strives to protect wildlife and critical habitat and, where development is permitted, encourage measures that mitigate impacts. YCS recognizes that trapping and hunting are culturally and recreationally important ways for people to sustain themselves and connect with the land. We feel that land use planning is critical for managing cumulative impacts and sustaining functioning ecosystems that support our quality of life in the Yukon and beyond. The protection of wetlands, the promotion of road ecology and the management of off-road vehicles are also key issues related to conserving Yukon’s wilderness.
Wildlife
YCS supports humane, sustainable and responsible hunting and trapping in the territory. We do this through engaging in wildlife management plan reviews conducted by Environment Canada, the Yukon Government, the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board and the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee. Through our regular submissions to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB), we bring attention to fish, wildlife and habitat that stand to be impacted by proposed development.
Key Wildlife Work:
For example, in 2020, we wrote a Position Paper on Grizzly Bear Conservation which outlines why this key species is in need of conservation and a proposed action plan. We also promote appreciation and understanding of wildlife through educational programs including BioBlitz events, winter wildlife mammal tracking workshops and our guided hikes at Miles Canyon.
YCS has worked closely with the Friends of McIntyre Creek to protect the McIntyre Creek wildlife corridor in the City of Whitehorse from development. Wherever possible we partner with other organizations in our collaborative efforts to protect fish, wildlife and habitat. This includes WildWise, Trails Only Yukon Association and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Land Use Planning
Land use planning is a collaborative way that the Yukon people can use social, environmental, economic and cultural information and knowledge to collectively determine what and how land should be protected, developed and managed in the territory. There are different kinds of land use plans (LUPs) in the territory: regional (including sub-regional) and local.
Types of LUPs:
Regional land use planning is a tool that derives from Yukon First Nations Final Agreements. Seven regional land use plans are proposed for the Yukon.
Sub-regional land use planning is a more specific planning process where there is a need to address a sub-regional concern or specific resource issue; sub-regional planning needs may arise from the regional land use planning process or be identified ahead of time.
Local area planning occurs on a smaller scale for unincorporated areas of public and private land, and official community plans are creative for municipalities.
Wetlands
YCS has been a leading voice for the protection of wetlands in the Yukon. We provide comments to YESAB and interventions to the Yukon Water Board (YWB) on every project that affects wetlands. Throughout the years, we have also led workshops, held events and done presentations to raise awareness about the value of our wetlands and to inspire their protection. For example, in October 2020, we presented to the Yukon Water Board during the Public Interest Hearings on Placer Mining in Wetlands. You can see our Wildlife Analyst, Sebastian Jones' presentation here (starts at 2:11 into the first recording).
Learn more through our Legislative and Education/Outreach resource pages below.
Road Ecology
Road ecology is the study of how roads interact with the environment. YCS is working to ensure roads are designed to minimize ecological impacts. For an overview on the impacts that existing and new roads can have in the Yukon, please read the following presentation.
Off-Road Vehicles
Off road vehicles (ORVs), quads, argos, dirt bikes, but not, for the purpose of this regulation snow machines, have the potential to damage vulnerable habitat such as the alpine and wetlands. In addition they can impact wildlife.
Yukon is one of the last jurisdictions in Canada to regulate off-road-vehicles (ORVs). The Yukon has been trying to address these issues since the 1980s. In 2015 and 2019, the Government of Yukon engaged Yukoners on the topic of regulation and proposed ORV Management Areas (ORVMAs) in 2021, they released their ORV Management Areas Regulation.
Here's what YCS thinks:
YCS supports the creation of ORVMAs, especially the option to designate some ORVMAs immediately. We also support proactive and comprehensive measures to stop trail proliferation and habitat damage throughout the Yukon while further ORVMAs are being nominated and created.
In particular, YCS urges the Yukon government to protect all alpine and wetland areas in the Yukon immediately through ORVMAs or other management tools. Alpine and wetland areas are important habitat and are especially sensitive to long-lasting damage by ORVs.
Recognizing that the government is aiming to mitigate ORV impacts, YCS supports the use of multiple tools as needed to achieve this, including but not limited to ORVMAs.
Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA) has also been advocating for ORV management in the territory. To learn more about their work and a history of ORV management initiatives (1981-2018), please visit their website: www.trailsonly.ca
To read YCS and TOYA’s comments on the regulations as well as the 2015/19 comments, go to the Legislation Resources page below. For how you can reduce your ORV impact on the environment, see the Education/Outreach resources page.
Current Initiatives
Land Use Planning & Park Planning
YCS is focused on two emerging plans - the Dawson Land Use Regional Plan and the Beaver River Sub-regional Plan. Through these land use planning processes, we are advocating for a plan that prioritizes conservation and the preservation of key ecosystems. YCS also contributes to new park plans and plan reviews.
Yukon South Beringia Priority Place Initiative
The Yukon South Beringia Priority Place Initiative is part of the federal government’s action plan for species at risk conservation, led by agreed principles and common criteria for local priorities and partnerships. Yukon South Beringia is a unique region for it’s geologic and glacial history and thus is home to a number of unique and endemic species, many of which are rare of at risk. YCS is leading the communications for this initiative.
