The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of British Columbia are pleased to report on initiatives undertaken between 2019 and 2021 related to implementation of the Northwest Territories-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement.

Through the Northwest Territories-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement, which focuses on the Liard and Petitot watersheds, both governments are committed to managing shared water resources in a way that maintains the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem.

The public is invited to comment on two proposed re-listings and a draft management plan under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.

The Act provides a process to assess which wild species are at risk of disappearing from the Northwest Territories (NWT), identify threats facing those species, and identify actions to help them recover.

LISTING PROPOSALS

The “FireSmart Starts in Your Backyard” contest is back across the territory.

The contest is meant to encourage residents to practice FireSmart principles that will help reduce their risk of experiencing wildfire damage.

FireSmart principles are proven to work – taking simple, often inexpensive, steps can help protect homes and cabins from wildfires – even if a fire reaches the property.

All NWT residents and cabin owners are eligible to participate.

Here’s how it works:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Government of Alberta are pleased to report on the implementation of the Alberta-Northwest Territories Bilateral Water Management Agreement.

The timeline has been extended for you to have your say on conservation planning for the next five years in the NWT.

You can now provide your feedback on how the GNWT works to protect the biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural continuity of the Northwest Territories until September 1, 2022.

The Northwest Territories State of the Environment Report 2022 (NWT SOE Report) provides information about topics relevant to the environment, organized to clearly explain what has occurred over time and what changes are expected in the future. It also compares the NWT environment to other parts of Canada and the world. The goal of this report is to help residents understand the NWT’s changing environment and enable them to make informed decisions about their impact on the environment.

Nunavut’s Minister of Environment David Akeeagok and the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) for the Northwest Territories, Shane Thompson hosted a meeting on barren-ground caribou management on June 16, 2022.

They were joined by Nunavut co-management partners from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Ekaluktutiak Hunters & Trappers Organization and Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association. Also attending from the NWT were representatives from the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Northwest Territory Métis Nation and North Slave Métis Alliance.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources wants NWT residents to think about bear safety this summer. The NWT is home to black bears, grizzly bears, and polar bears, and as temperatures rise and residents head out on the land, bears are active across the territory. While bears normally avoid contact with people, residents must be aware that we live in bear territory and bear encounters can occur anytime humans and bears occupy the same land.

The Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP) is providing $1.7 million in 2022-23 to support 29 monitoring and research projects. Funding recipients include Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, universities, and territorial and federal government departments.

This year, approximately $1.2 million is being provided for ongoing projects and approximately $500,000 is being provided for eight new projects.

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Shane Thompson, is pleased to announce that the Government of the Northwest Territories has adopted a Statement of Environmental Values. This is an important step in addressing a mandate commitment of the 19th Legislative Assembly, which is to ensure climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions. The NWT is the second jurisdiction in Canada to take such a step.