NWT Land Interests
The GNWT has the responsibility for ensuring that decisions regarding land use, planning and management reflect the interests and priorities of all residents of the NWT. Building from the vision and principles, the GNWT has articulated a set of NWT land interests.
Balancing these interests will allow Northerners to share the wealth of the resources, the opportunities for employment, and the responsibility for ecological sustainability.
The Land Sustains Us
Land is the foundation of many of our spiritual and cultural values, as well as Aboriginal languages in the NWT. The land is the basis of the traditional economy.
- Land is managed in a manner that supports and respects NWT cultural values, identity and uses;
- Traditional and scientific knowledge is used in managing lands;
- Ecosystem goods and services (including clean air, clean water) are an important source of wealth and benefits to NWT residents;
- Harvesting of resources (including wildlife, fish, forests, and agriculture) is responsibly managed to support the health and well-being of all NWT residents, now and into the future; and
- Water quality, quantity, and flow are maintained in a sustainable manner to support the health and well-being of NWT residents, land and animals
We Support the Sustainability of the Land
Environmental stewardship has guided NWT land decisions for many years. Ecosystem diversity and health are priorities for the GNWT, and this is reflected through its land-management and environmental-stewardship programs.
- The land and its resources are managed in an ecologically sustainable manner over the long term;
- Environmental conditions are known and impacts to the land are prevented, monitored and mitigated to maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity;
- Adaptive cumulative effects management is implemented, monitored and enforced; and
- Protected areas are established to conserve natural and cultural values and ecological representation for current and future generations.
The Land Provides Benefits and Wealth
NWT land holds significant natural resources that offer great potential for economic development. Sustainable development of resources is essential to the long-term economic, environmental, cultural and social well-being of NWT residents. Responsibly developing these resources can result in meaningful jobs for residents, opportunities for businesses, and sources of revenue to support the fiscal health of the GNWT and enable territory-wide public programs and services for NWT residents.
- Land resources are developed in ways that create sustainable economic benefits and prosperity for NWT residents;
- The use of land supports greater NWT self-sufficiency and generates revenues and royalties in support of programs and services to NWT residents;
- The scale and pace of development are managed to maximize opportunities for NWT residents;
- Land and public infrastructure are available to meet community, regional and territorial needs;
- Land is managed to create sustainable business opportunities and employment for current and future generations of NWT residents;
- The benefits and costs of land use are equitably distributed between communities and regions; and
- Each region will have a proportionate and equitable use of land for both conservation and development.
Land Use is Well Governed
All NWT residents have an interest in how the land is managed and how land- based activities are regulated. The management and planning of our use of the land is set through legislation, agreements, regional land-use planning, regulatory review, permitting, and various programs and services.
- Aboriginal, treaty, and other legal rights related to land and resources are recognized and respected;
- Decisions about land are made in a transparent and accountable manner based on meaningful engagement with NWT residents and interested parties and, where applicable, consultation and accommodation with Aboriginal governments and organizations;
- The NWT land management regime is integrated, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities;
- There are clear, consistent, timely and appropriate regulatory processes; and
- Trans-boundary agreements and processes contribute to effective land management in the NWT.