FORT MCPHERSON (August 16, 2012) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) and the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB) signed the Gwich'in Forest Management Plan: A Framework for Forest Management in the Gwich’in Settlement Area in Fort McPherson this morning.

The plan was signed by GTC President Robert A. Alexie, NWT Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) J. Michael Miltenberger and GRRB Interim Chair Eugene Pascal.

“We hope this important milestone will be matched by other productive joint initiatives in the near future. We don’t want to lose sight of the forest for the trees,” said GTC President Alexie. “The fact that our first agreement is a Forestry Management Plan is a good sign. It’s our intention to focus on the big picture in the days to come.”

He also expressed thanks to GTC staff who worked on the tripartite initiative.

“We want to congratulate the GTC Lead, Director LRI Norman Snowshoe, Jozef Carnogursky, LR Technical Advisor, and Mardy Semmler, Lands Manager, for all their hard work and a successful outcome.”

“Forest resources play and important role in the lives of the Gwich’in people - providing fuelwood, wildlife habitat, food plants, medicine, economic opportunities and spiritual and cultural benefits,” added ENR Minister Miltenberger. “This plan is an important step in cooperative and collaborative forest management between Government of the Northwest Territories and the Gwich’in people.”

The Gwich’in Forest Management Plan covers a number of key areas including: forest protection, forest health, commercial harvesting; harvesting for personal use; tree clearing for development activities; sustainable harvest levels; harvest of non-timber forest products and conservation zones.

It identifies concerns and outlines solutions to guide forest-related activities in the Gwich’in Settlement Area for the wise management and protection of forests.

Implementation of the forest management plan includes the development of a five-year work plan to address concerns and solutions contained in it.

The process to develop the plan began in 1995 in accordance with the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.

For more information, contact:

Larry Frolick
Communications Director
Gwich'in Tribal Council
Tel: 867-777-7923
Email: lfrolick@gwichin.nt.ca

Amy Thompson
Executive Director
Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board
Tel: 867-777-6602
E-mail: athompson@grrb.nt.ca

Judy McLinton, Manager
Public Affairs and Communications
Environment and Natural Resources
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-873-87379
Email: judy_mclinton@gov.nt.ca

Backgrounder and map available.