The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a renewed workplan to advance protected areas and conservation areas in the territory.

Healthy Land, Healthy People has been updated to outline priorities and actions to guide the GNWT’s collaborative approach to identifying, establishing, and implementing protected areas and conservation areas – known as the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) conservation network.

The workplan outlines actions under five priorities: 

• Advance planning and decision-making on the establishment of protected areas.
• Support the effective and equitable management of national, territorial, and Indigenous protected areas and conservation areas.
• Inform and educate the public about the conservation network.
• Pursue sustainable, long-term funding for the establishment, planning, management, and operations of protected areas.
• Support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship initiatives.

These actions are targeted for completion between 2023 and 2028.

This renewal builds upon the success of Healthy Land, Healthy People: GNWT Priorities for Advancement of Conservation Network Planning, 2016-2021 – which resulted in a new Protected Areas Act and two new Protected Areas.

Why it matters

Protected areas and conservation areas:

• Maintain biodiversity and the integrity of Northern ecosystems 
• Contribute to climate change resilience and mitigation
• Protect cultural values (i.e. sacred sites) and promote cultural continuity
• Provide new economic opportunities in nearby communities (i.e. local economies)

How it was developed

Between 2020 and 2021, significant engagement was undertaken with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, stakeholders, and the public to inform this workplan.

A draft of the workplan was shared in 2021 for comment. A What We Heard report summarized feedback received through this process.

Quote(s)

“Our environment is one of our territory’s greatest assets. Together with our partners, our government will continue to protect what matters most – advancing a conservation network which will support cultural, social, environmental, and economic wellbeing.”

- Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

• 17.3% of the NWT’s land and freshwater are protected or conserved.
• The conservation network is a collection of protected areas and conservation areas designed to protect biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural values in the NWT – including wildlife habitat, crucial wetlands, and sacred sites.
• In the NWT, the conservation network is made up of a number of different areas, such as Indigenous protected and conserved areas (IPCAs), territorial protected areas, land use plan zones, wildlife conservation areas, national parks and national park reserves, national wildlife areas, and migratory bird sanctuaries that work together to protect biodiversity and the ways of life of the people of the NWT.
• An example of what that looks like in practice is the recently established Thaidene Nëné area in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake. An Indigenous Protected Area and Territorial Protected Area and Wildlife Conservation Area are complemented by a Federal National Park Reserve. Indigenous, territorial, and federal governments are now collaborating in the stewardship of this ecologically and culturally significant landscape.

Related Links

• View the full workplan: Healthy Land, Healthy People
• What We Heard:  Healthy Land, Healthy People renewal
• Learn more about conservation network planning in the NWT

For media requests, please contact:

Mike Westwick

Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

Environment and Climate Change

Government of the Northwest Territories

Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca