Why NWT CIMP?

Monitoring cumulative impacts is a legislative obligation of the Sahtu, Gwich’in and Tlicho land claim agreements and a statutory requirement of Part 6 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.

The vision of the NWT CIMP is to watch and understand the land so that it can be used respectfully forever. Since 1999, NWT CIMP has worked to make sure cumulative impact information is collected and available to support northern resource management decision-making.

A partnership approach

NWT CIMP uses a partnership approach to achieve its objectives. A wide range of partners are engaged to establish priorities and conduct tasks, including Indigenous, federal, and territorial governments, co-management boards and academic institutions. A Steering Committee with representatives from Indigenous, federal, and territorial governments and co-management boards  guides the program.

NWT CIMP considers all sources of knowledge, including science and Traditional Knowledge  equally valuable. Community capacity building and community-based monitoring are key principles that are supported when linked to monitoring that produces information relevant to cumulative impacts.

Principles

The following key principles help NWT CIMP achieve its outcomes:

1. Focus on monitoring cumulative impacts that are relevant to  land and water decisions.
2. Cumulative impact monitoring includes measuring both human disturbance and natural changes.
3. Support effects-based and stressor-based approaches to generate needed information for decision-makers.
4. Support cumulative impact monitoring and research of landscape change resulting from climate change.
5. Support the use of common and standardized data collection and analysis protocols.
6. Strong partnership approach to ensure success. Indigenous governments and organizations are involved in all aspects of the program.
7. Science and Traditional Knowledge are equally important sources of monitoring  data.
8. Support community-based monitoring and capacity building when they  support monitoring cumulative impacts.
9. Cumulative impact monitoring can include baselines monitoring where required.

For more detailed information on NWT CIMP’s Strategic Direction see Strategic Direction.