Northwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan - Environment and ...

NorthwestTerritoriesBiodiversityAction PlanReport Two:Gap and Overlap Analysisand Recommendationsfor Future Actions

Northwest TerritoriesBiodiversity Action PlanReport Two: Gap and Overlap Analysis andRecommendations for Future Actions2006NWT Biodiversity Team

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in PublicationNWT Biodiversity TeamNorthwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan: Report 2, gap and overlap analysis and recommendations for futureactions / NWT Biodiversity Team.Available also on the internet.Includes bibliographical references.ISBN 0-7708-0146-31. Biological diversity conservation – Government policy – Northwest Territories. 2. Ecosystem management – NorthwestTerritories. 3. Environmental policy – Northwest Territories. I. Northwest Territories. Dept. of Environmentand Natural Resources. II. Title.QH77.C3N67 2006 333.95’16’097193 C2005-906841-8Copies of this publication may be obtained free of charge from:Wildlife DivisionDepartment of Environment and Natural ResourcesGovernment of the Northwest Territories600, 5102 50th Ave.Yellowknife NT X1A 3S8Fax 867-873-0293This document is available on the internet at 8 www.nwtwildlife.comSuggested Citation:NWT Biodiversity Team. 2006. Northwest Territories Biodiversity Action Plan – Report Two: Gap and Overlap Analysisand Recommendations for Future Actions. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of theNorthwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT.Designed in the Northwest TerritoriesPrinted on Recycled Paper.Photo credits:Biodiversity: Web of life and connectivitySpecies at Risk: Peary Caribou in spring © J. Nagy/ENRProtected Areas: Nahanni National Park Reserve © C. O’BrienSustainable Forests: Mackenzie Valley Taiga Forest © PAS/ENRSustainable Use: Muskrat © R. KennedyClimate Change: Increasing storms © R. Staples/PAS/ENRAlien Invasive Species: Scentless False Mayweed (Chamomile) © DOT

NWT Biodiversity Team 2004-2005• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – NWT Chapter• Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada• BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. – Ekati Mine Site• Department of Fisheries and Oceans• Ducks Unlimited Canada• Forest Management, Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories• Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada• NWT Protected Areas Secretariat• Parks Canada• Sahtu Renewable Resources Board• Wildlife Division, Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories• Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT)• World Wildlife Fund Canada (NWT)• Aurora College and Aurora Research Institute (observer)• Dene Nation (observer)• Department of Transportation, Government of the Northwest Territories (observer)• Canadian Museum of Nature (observer)See contact information on page 51.Participation in the Biodiversity Team always remains open.The Biodiversity Team would benefit from your participation.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

AcknowledgementsThe NWT Biodiversity Team would like to acknowledge the help of individuals whohelped during workshops and during the production of this report:Andrea NoklebyGina ElliottHal MillsMark JosephPatricia CoyneKathy MercureBob BaileySusan CoreyJudy McLintonNote to ReadersThe NWT Biodiversity Team members have performed the gap/overlap analysisof NWT biodiversity actions and have drafted recommendations based on theirindividual opinions and experiences, independently from the organizations theybelong to.iiNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Table of ContentsMessage from the Team............................................................................................... 1Message de l’équipe..................................................................................................... 3Dône dii nîhtå’è k’e eghàlagïda giyati.......................................................................... 5D£ne Ba Yati Niṫ’aµ............................................................................................................ 7Di åaît’ê déhtth’î goyatíe ôt’e........................................................................................... 9Tuhaarakrˆaq Hivuniuqtinin............................................................................................. 11Khehåòk Natr’igwijìlzhii Kat Gogwandàk..................................................................... 13Introduction................................................................................................................. 15Vision........................................................................................................................... 17The Northwest Territories Context............................................................................ 19Guiding Principles of Biodiversity Actions in the NWT........................................... 21The Analysis................................................................................................................. 22Team’s Findings and Recommendations................................................................... 251. Species at Risk.................................................................................................. 272. Protected Areas................................................................................................ 303. Sustainable Forests........................................................................................... 354. Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife........................................... 395. Climate Change............................................................................................... 436. Invasive Alien Species....................................................................................... 46Next Steps.................................................................................................................... 49NWT Biodiversity Team Members – Contacts........................................................... 51GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONSiii

Message from the TeamIn our first report, Major Initiatives on Biodiversity, we described activities of allorganizations and groups working in the Northwest Territories (NWT) on some aspect ofthe Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (CBS) and the United Nations Convention on BiologicalDiversity (UNCBD). Every year more is being done, so we have updated the list of NWTbiodiversity actions on the Biodiversity Action Plan web page.It is with pleasure that we present a second report on biodiversity actions in the NWT,Canada. This second report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan presents a gap andoverlap analysis of NWT actions carried out to learn whether we are doing a good job ofimplementing the UNCBD in the NWT. The analysis was done on the core themes of theUNCBD that are the most relevant to the NWT context. This analysis provided us with aset of recommendations for future NWT actions that would fill relevant gaps and increasecooperation.We invite everybody to review our recommendations and provide input on additionalideas that would lead to more innovative ways to work together for the conservation andsustainable use of biodiversity in the NWT and the Arctic.The updated list can befound in the Matrix onthe NWT BiodiversityAction Plan web page at8 www. nwtwildlife. comCore Themes• Species at Risk• Protected Areas• Sustainable Forest• Sustainable Use of Terrestrialand Aquatic Wildlife• Climate Change• Invasive Alien SpeciesParticipation in the Biodiversity Team always remains open.The Biodiversity Team would benefit from your participation.Yours truly,NWT Biodiversity TeamPeregrine Falcon © G. CourtGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

Key RecommendationsThe report contains many recommendations to improve NWT’s actions on biodiversityover the next ten years. Some of the most important recommendations for each coretheme are described here.Species at RiskContinue to work, primarily through the co-management system, towards managementand recovery planning, involving all NWT groups interested in species at risk in the NWT.Protected AreasImprove coordination among conservation, land use planning and development agenciesto increase efficient use of resources and reduce the burden on community capacity.Sustainable ForestsContinue to update forest legislation and harmonize with all applicable legislation,including land claim legislation, to develop better tools for the sustainable use of forests inthe NWT.Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic SpeciesIncrease our monitoring of harvest rates to include all types of harvesters and fishers in allregions of the NWT.Climate ChangeIncrease studies on impacts and adaptations to climate change.Invasive Alien SpeciesEvaluate the potential threats of invasive alien species to NWT ecosystems. Include surveysand questionnaires to industry or groups that have the greatest capacity to contribute topotential solutions.NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Message de l’équipeDans le premier rapport intitulé « Initiatives importantes en matière de biodiversité »,nous avons décrit les activités de tous les organismes et les groupes qui travaillent auxTerritoires du Nord-Ouest (TNO) sur certains aspects de la Stratégie canadienne de labiodiversité (SCB) et de la Convention des Nations-Unies sur la diversité biologique(CNUDB). Année après année, plus de travail est effectué. Par conséquent, nous avonsmis à jour la liste des mesures prises en matière de biodiversité aux TNO.C’est avec plaisir que nous vous présentons le deuxième rapport sur les mesures prisespour protéger la biodiversité aux TNO (Canada). Ce deuxième rapport du plan d’actionpour la biodiversité aux TNO présente une analyse des écarts et des chevauchementsdans les mesures prises dans le but de nous indiquer si nous mettons en œuvre defaçon adéquate la CNUDB aux TNO. L’analyse a été établie en fonction des principauxthèmes de la CNUDB qui sont les plus pertinents dans le contexte des TNO. Elle nousprésente une série de recommandations relatives aux actions à prendre pour les TNO quiresserreraient les écarts en question et augmenteraient la coopération.Nous vous invitons à examiner nos recommandations et à nous fournir vos commentairesqui nous permettront de trouver des façons innovatrices additionnelles pour travaillerensemble à la conservation et à l’utilisation durable de la biodiversité aux TNO et dansl’Arctique.Pour consulter la liste à jourdu plan d’action en matière debiodiversité aux TNO, visitezle 8 www.nwtwildlife.com(matrice).Principaux thèmes• Espèces en péril• Zones protégées• Développment forestierdurable• Utilisation durable de lafaune terrestre et aquatique• Changement climatique• Espèces exotiquesenvahissantesIl y a encore de la place au sein de l’Équipe Biodiversité des TNO.L’Équipe bénéficierait de votre participation.Veuillez agréer, Mesdames, Messieurs, l’expression de nos sentiments les meilleurs.Équipe Biodiversité TNOMonitoring butterflies © G. Guthrie/SRRBGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

Recommandations clésLe rapport contient plusieurs recommandations afin d’améliorer les mesures prises enmatière de biodiversité aux TNO au cours des 10 prochaines années. Voici certaines desplus importantes recommandations pour chaque thème:Espèces en périlContinuer à travailler à la planification d’initiatives de gestion et de rétablissement avec,principalement grâce au système de cogestion, tous les groupes intéressés aux espèces enpéril aux TNO.Zones protégéesAméliorer la coordination entre les agences qui font la promotion de la conservation, lesagences d’aménagement du territoire et les agences de développement pour accroîtrel’utilisation efficace des ressources et réduire le fardeau des capacités communautaires.Développement forestier durableContinuer de mettre à jour les lois sur les forêts et les harmoniser avec toutes les lois quis’y appliquent, y compris les lois liées aux revendications territoriales, pour développer demeilleurs outils pour l’utilisation durable des forêts aux TNO.Utilisation durable des espèces terrestres et aquatiquesAugmenter la surveillance des taux de récolte, ceux de tous les exploitants de ressourcesnaturelles et des pêcheurs dans toutes les régions des TNO.Changement climatiqueAugmenter le nombre d’études liées aux répercussions et aux adaptations concernant lechangement climatique.Espèces exotiques envahissantesÉvaluer les menaces potentielles d’espèces exotiques envahissantes sur les écosystèmesdes TNO. Présenter des sondages et des questionnaires aux industries ou aux groupes quiont le plus de chance de contribuer à des solutions potentielles.NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Dône dii nîhtå’è k’e eghàlagïda giyatiAkweåö nîhtå’è hoòlî hò “Tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh wek’aæà Wegondi”, dône azhôedzanèk’e amìi dii haani lah k’e eghàlagìde weghô nîhtå’è gehtsî eyits’ôBehchonèk’e gots’ô, Canada gots’ô edàanì tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh k’aæa k’eeghàlagìde weghô nîhtå’è hoòlî. Xo tâât’e dii haani naawo k’e asìi åôgôö gik’eeghàlagìde adaàdè: eyit’à edzanèk’e gha tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh kaæa xogihdi naawosenàgehæï.NWT, Canada gha dii nàke xo gots’ô dii nîhtå’è wek’è eghàlas’ïda t’à naxighawegondi ts’ehtsî gha mahsi ts’ïwô. Dii nàke ts’ö nîhtå’è ts’ehtsî sii edàanìedzanèk’e tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh kaæa xè eghàlageda ha weghô nîhtå’è hoòlîsii weghaà eghàlagìde, eyit’à ahsï dii lah k’e eghàlagìde lah nàke ts’ö wek’eeghàlagìde sôôni, ahsï UNCBD edzanèk’e gha nezî eghàlats’ìde hôôni. Edzanèk’ededî edàanì UNCBD àtå’è sii weghaà eghàlagìde. Dii nîhtå’è weghaà edàanì wek’eeghàlahòda nindè nezîa gedi t’à nîhtå’è hoòlî, dii naawo wet’à îda achî dii haaninaawo k’e eghàlats’ìde nindè NWT ayìi gigha deghaà seèdla-le sii wek’èjô haeyits’ô wet’à deèæö gits’àts’edi ade ha.NWT Tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’ohkaæa wegondi wek’èashô hadahwhô dè jô ts’ö ahde8 www.nwtwildlife.comNaawo• Tich’àdi whìle adèch’àwexòedi• Ndè wexòedi• Ts’I• Dii nèk’e tich’àdi eyits’ôåiwe iìchì• Goxè dii nèk’e åadî edàde• Îda nèk’e gots’ô tich’àdidihdê nèk’e ts’ö adàdeDône azhô gonîhtå’è gighaìda gets’èdi ha ts’îwô eyits’ô gondi deèæö weta negìæaha wet’à nezî eåexè eghàlatsìde ha wet’à edzanèk’e tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh azhô kaæagohåî nezî wexòedi ha gondi negìæa ha gîwô nindè gehts’îhwhô.Dône t’ala goxè eghàlada ha nîwô dè, gigha hoòæô.Nahxî gots’aàdi nindè, wet’àhoòts’ehæà ha.Dii Dône Nîhtå’è yîïtå’è,NWT k’e tich’àdi eyits’ô tå’oh kaæa k’e eghàlagìdedôPacific Loon © C. Machtans/CWSGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

Dii haanì naawo hohåè70 lah wek’e eghàlahòda gedi t’à naawo hoòlî, wet’à NWT k’e îda hònôö xo ts’ödeèæö nezî lah k’e eghàlagìde ha gîwô. Naawo môhdaà sìì wetâât’e sii dek’ètå’è.Tich’àdi whìle adèch’à wexòediEdàanì tich’àdi wek’èhòdi eyits’ô edàanì netåô àde ha azhô eåexè eghàlagìdeha, dône dii haani lah k’e eghàlagìde sii tich’àdi azhô edzanèk’e gohåî weghônànègìde nindè goxè aget’î ha dìle.Ndè wexòediDône azhô tich’àdi esàwòdech’à xè eghàlagìde, ndè nezî wet’àhot’î xèeghàlagìde eyits’ô dii haani lah k’e eghàlagìde gha wet’à eghàlagìde gha asìiazhô gigha ts’atà whela xè köta yagòla asìi gigha deghaà whela-le dè gik’eeghàlada haàdì.Ts’iWet’à nezî eghàlats’èda ha ts’i wexòedi naawo sii åadî adlà nindè nezîa, eyizô-lehò dône dexè segogîla sii naawo azhô eåexè whela t’à deèæö NWT k’e ts’i nezîwexòedi ade ha.Dii nèk’e tich’àdi eyits’ô åiwe iìchìNWT k’e azhô dône edàtåô tich’àdi gihchì sii wexòedi xè tich’àdi edàwhìt’î gihchìwexòedi nindè nezîa.Goxè dii nèk’e åadî edàdeGoxè dii nèk’e edì adàde neèt’à edàanì asìi goxìedì eyits’ô edàanì asìi goxè åadîagoòt’î sii deèæö wexòedi nindè nezîa.Îda nèk’e gots’ô tich’àdi dihdê ts’ö adàdeÎda nèk’e gots’ô tich’àdi dihdê ts’ö ade sii wexòedi nindè nezîa. Wedànàgeta xèweghô dàæeèke dè wet’à deèæö nezî wek’e eghàlada xè seèdle ha dìle.NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

D£ne Ba Yati Ni˙t’aµT’ahtthe ÷ereht…’iṡ ha˙liµ ku˙, “Major Initiatives on Biodiversity” hu˙lye si˙, jadiżi∆ n£ṅ ÷ed£riCanadian Biodiversity Strategy hu˙lye chu United Nations ts’iµ Convention on Biodiversityhu˙lye si˙, t’at’u bek’e ÷egha˙lada si˙ ghaµ d£ne xe˙l hailni. ¿iµ…aġh ghay hant’u, de÷aṅi˙…t’e bek’e÷egha˙lada: hat’e t’a˙ jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e t’at’u bek’a ÷egha˙lada si˙, tth’i beghaµ nariṫ…’iṡ.Nuweni˙, jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e t’at’u bek’a ÷egha˙lada si˙, tth’i beghaµ ÷ereht…’iṡ hi˙lts’iµ nat…’iµ. ¿ed£ri÷ereht…’iṡ si˙, NWT Biodiversity Strategy (CBS) hu˙lye, ÷eyi beye˙ t’at’u˙ suġha˙-u, t’at’usuġha˙il- u, United Nations ts’iµ Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD) bek’e ÷egha˙laida –u,beghaṙ t’a huri˙ld£n si˙ ghaµ rit…’iṡ. ¿ed£ri net’i˙ si˙, UNCBD t’at’u yati he…÷aµ si˙, jadiżi∆ n£ṅ t’abets’£ṅ haliµ si, ÷eyi t’a net’i∆. ¿ed£ri net’i∆ si˙, yuneth ha÷a beghaṙ jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e t’at’u bek’e÷egha˙lada li˙ xa yati ni˙lya.¿ed£ri yati ni˙lya si˙, t’aµlasi yene…÷iµ-u, beghaµ…tth£n jadiżi∆ n£ṅ –u hak’£th n£ṅ ni˙ badi xa t’at’usuġha˙-u bek’a ÷egha˙laida –u, tth’i ta’t’u suġha˙-u ÷e…a ÷egha˙laida li˙ hanuweṫs’edi xa ri˙l÷iµ.T’aµlasi ÷ed£ri Biodiversity Team hu˙lye xe˙l ÷egha˙lana rel÷iµ de˙, hane xaduẇi˙le.Bets’iṅi˙ de˙, nehet’oṙe…thir xa.¿edåri t’a bek’åreht…’ís sí,NWT Biodiversity Action Planhúlye computer k’e, ÷eyërbek’ëréhit… ’ís.8 www.nwtwildlife.comT’a té bet’óre÷ayihidhén si• Ch’adi dóle Ch’á Badi• Ní Badi Nánis• Nî-u Tu-u• K’ék’ër Bet’át’i˜ Xa• Bit’as ¿edu˜ Há÷a• Yu÷áne Ts’iµ T’asi Jadízi∆ NënK’e Nídél SíNWT Biodiversity K’e ÷egha˙laida ts’iµ ÷at’eMuskrat © R. KennedyGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

T’a Yati Ni˙lya Si˙¿ed£ri ÷ereht…’iṡ ye˙, …aiṡdiµona yati ni˙lya, t’at’u jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e yuneth …oṅa ghay xa suġha˙ts’£ṅ bek’e ÷egha˙lada xa. T’a te˙ bet’oṙe÷a yihidh£ṅ si˙, jaµ bek’oreḣt…’iṡ ÷at’e.Ch’adi do˙le Ch’a˙ BadiJadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e, yuneṫh ha÷a, t’a ch’aḋi˙ do˙le ÷ane si˙, do˙le ÷ane ch’a˙ ÷e…a badi-u, tth’i ÷e…ananelye xa ts’£ṅ ÷egha˙lada xa,Ni˙ BadiT’aµ ni˙ chu ch’aḋi˙ chu hara…ni k’e ÷eghaḋa˙lan si˙, nezu∆ ÷e…a ÷eghaḋa…aihena-u, ni˙ t’a’tubet’aṫ’i∆-u, tth’i t’aµ ni˙ t’aṙaṫ’iµ si˙, nezuµ yek’e ÷eghaḋa˙laihena-u, tth’i t’a bet’aṫ’i si˙, suġha˙-ubet’aṫ’iµ-u, haẏoµriµla naṫs’ede˙ si˙ deni ÷u…i bets’£ṅ ha…i ch’a˙ ÷e…a ÷egha˙lada xa.NaṅisNaṅis t’at’u˙ ha˙la si˙, beni yati do˙liµ si˙, sureldh£n-u, ÷e…ts’edaredi-u, tth’i ni˙ senaḋaṫi si-u,÷eyi yuneth ha÷a de˙, suġha˙ xa ts’£n bek’e ÷egha˙lada x£l÷iµ.Ni˙-u, Tu-u, K’e˙k’£r Bet’aṫ’Iµ XaNi˙ ts’iµ-u, tu ts’iµ t’asi˙ na˙ltsi˙ si˙ de÷a£ni˙…t’e badi xa, jadiżi∆ n£ṅ harelyuµ ÷anaṙ ts’iµ.Biµt’as ¿eduµ Ha˙÷aµBiṫ’as ÷eduµ ÷ane si˙, bet’a˙ t’asi˙ ÷eduµ ÷at’i˙ si˙ ÷eyi bek’auneta xa,Yu÷aṅe Ts’Iµ T’asi˙ Jadiżi∆ N£ṅ K’e Niḋe˙l Si˙Yu÷aṅe ts’iµ t’asi˙ jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e niḋe˙l si˙, bet’a˙ jadiżi∆ n£ṅ k’e t’asi˙ naḋe˙ si, bet’a˙ beba huni˙lato xa net’iµ xa. T’aµ ÷ed£ri hat’i k’e ÷egha˙lana xa suġha˙ li˙, haṫ’i d£ne relk£r xa.NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Di åaît’ê déhtth’î goyatíe ôt’e“Ahsíi yáenda góh gonezû agót’é honîdhê gha” edihtå’é hólî. Di edihtå’é k’eh adídiNWT zhíe adágoat’ñî meghô edíitå’é. Canada chu United Nations ká goodôô ts’atáa azhíiedágelee gha, naxî NWT zhíe gots’áidi láondíi k’çê meghô edihtå’é thítsî. Åaît’ê déhtth’îkeh di há gozí kaozhe “Canada ts’atáa nñogñæá la ahsíi gonezû yáondá honîdhê ghaaget’î” (CBS) gots’ê “United Nations azhôô ahsíi yáenda hoedi ghô eåek’çê yati getsî”(UNCBD). Xaye tanét’ée azhíi k’ónî ghálaeda hésñî gha meghô edihtå’é hítsî.Edágoat’ñî hésñî ghô nahinîç t’áh nahe gha edihtå’é thítsî. Di gok’é edihtå’é athídlághágoadá t’áh ká gonezû eghálaeda móodat’î la di NWT zhíe UNCBD edáodachoníogéniæô gogha há athídlá. Di UNCBD azhíi heseníyaegenîti nahe gha nezû náthetth’et’áh mendáet’ii k’eníta gha. Yundaá gogha, di azhíi mendáet’ii k’eníta hésñî met’áodîæak’êê mek’éodet’á gha adídi.Di NWT zhíe héh Artic zhíe, di meghánda gots’ê t’ãâ kanahédandi, meghô edáenadé hésñîmanda gots’ê kaondíi hénîdé ahsíi gonezû yáondá gha adídi nahe ts’ándi héde.Åaît’ê déhtth’î keh, góts’edi dúle góh t’ats’õzç ts’eda.Góh ts’eda la met’áh godîcháa gots’áts’endi ôt’e.Di megots’íhæá gha hénîdéNWT Biodiversity Action Plangozí zhie dúle computer k’ehmekáts’eneta8 www. nwtwildlife.comAhsíi nechá tå’ââ agot’î• Tîch’adíi gha goneji• Kehoedi k’éh• Ahsíi naedenezhe k’éh• Ndéh héh tu k’éh ahsíinaedenezhe chu• Yayít’á chu gúlî agodande• Gots’ê Det’onî héh tîch’adíichu gúlî nahe tah adandeMáhsi,NWT azhôô ahsíi gonezû yáenda gha kehoedi k’e déhtth’î yiõlîRock lichen © ENRGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS

Yati nít’ô hésñî k’çê agót’é ghaYundaá honéno xaye k’éozhíe gogha yati åô nñzha hésñî edáondií NWT zhí edagondi holíghô há ats’edi. T’áh duh godîcháa ghô kanahédídi gha.Tîch’adíi gha gonejiÅaît’ê déhtth’î keh di NWT zhíe t’áh tîch’adíi gha goneji ka kehoedi ghálaidée goghamet’áodéæa hénîdé dúle gots’ágendi.Kehoedi k’éhT’aa ndéh t’áh ayiát’î gha yiõlî gots’ê t’aa ndéh hoendi yiõlî chu eåek’agá gonezûeghálaenda gha.Dechî tahDechî tah go-îlaa kêê gonozø, go-îlaa héh ndéh gúchú-îlaa chu eåéh eghálagidée t’áhahsíi dechî tah naedenezhe gha ats’edi.Ndéh héh tu k’éh ahsíi naedenezhe chuEhdzoo ahæî héh åue kaenidée, amíi tîch’adíi ka nazé yiõlî sée xôô gohoedi gha deæõôahsíi åagîhde ch’á.Yayít’á chu gúlî agodandeEdáondíi t’áh yayít’á gúlî mets’îæõ agodande kegóthíæa gha.Det’onî héh tîch’adíi chu gúlî nahe tah adandeEdáondíi t’áh di ahsíi yáenda ch’ádi ahót’îî mets’îæõ gúlî edédîdíi. Eghálaeda k’éozhíechu t’áh åaît’ê ahsíi keh déhtth’î yiõlî dagoedíke gha edáondií nahe ts’ádagedendi t’áhmeghô kegóthíæa gha kagódúdí.10NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Tuhaarakrˆaq HivuniuqtininHivuliq quliaqtaq atiqaqtuq “Havaakrˆaqpak Iñuuhiatigun Nirrˆutit IñuuniarvingitluNiqikrˆangita Nauvingitlu Nunaptingni”. Nunalu ikaaqhaklugu quliarivut havautingit iñuitkatilaavluting Northwest Territories (NWT) nunami ilangit Canadami nirrˆutit iñuuniarvingitihumalungnaqhirˆut Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (CBS)lu nunami atlanilu katimarˆgaliqhuttamakuat ihumaalugiliklugit United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).Ukiulimaaq havaraqtut qimilruuklugit NWTmi nirrˆutit naurˆiatlu qanuqitmagata.Uvva pakma iåuatut tuglia quliaq NWT, Canadami. Nirrˆutit niqingit nakuurˆut qimilruuktavuttaitnaguuq havakapta iåuatmun aullarˆugut NWT nunami avatmun ikayuqtigiitluta UNCBDilitchuriluting avaligiikluting hivunirilugu NWT nunanga hivunikpatlu nakuuniarlugu NWTmiiluriikluta aglialakayaqtuq iåuatmun havakapta.Kihutliqaa aiyuugaarivut hivuniuqapta ilauhuktuat hunik atlanik ilahukuffigit hivuniurutivutihumaffiniglu tutqikhiniaqaptigu itrˆuhia nirrˆutit iñuuniarviatlu nirriniarviatlu iluriikluta NWTnunami tariumilu nakuunayaqtuq.Ilitchurirˆakrˆat paqinaqtut MatrixmiNWT Nirrˆutitlu NaurˆiatluHavautingit web pagemi8 www.nwtwildlife.com.Hivuniurun• Nirrˆutit Ihumalungnaåhaat• PiqpangnaqtuatAnguniarnailarviit Nunat• Iningit Natirnani• Nunaffini Atuakrˆat Nirrˆutit• Nuna Atlanguqman Hilalu• Atlat Qainiaqtuat NirrˆutitIlaurˆuat qimilruuktuni angmahuurˆuq. Iñuit atlat ikayuqpata ikayutauniaqtutnunaqatigiiktuani nunami naurˆiat naurˆuat nirrˆutit niqingit qaunagilugit.Uumanga,NWT Qaunakrˆit NunakunMountain Avens on Banks Island © A. Korpach/DUCGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 11

Hivuliq Aularnihaarutaat HavaqatigiitQuliaqtangit hivuniuqtukrˆat qulini ukiuni ihumaalutit uvva ilangit ihumaalungnavialuktutHivuniurutingit havaakrˆat.Nirrˆutit IhumalungnalhaatHavaktuarluhi hivuniurluhi huiqungitkuffigit nirrˆutit NWT nunangani ilagiittuatihumalutiqaktuat nirrˆutitigun NWTmi.Piqpangnaqtuat Anguniarnailarviit NunatAtautchikun ilagiiktuahi hivuniurluhi nakuuniurˆarlugit ihumiuqtahi atuqpalaaqtaililugitatuakrˆat inilaani naamapkalaniurˆarlugit inilaani atuakrˆat.NatirnatIåuatun qaunarilugit nunanaktahi humik havangniaruffi qaunagilugu natirnaq NWTnunangani.Nunaffini Atuakrˆat NirrˆutitHuniglikaa anguniarniakpata qaunakrˆiqarlugit anguniaruktuat iqalungniaruktuatluuninunaffini NWTmi.Nuna Atlanguqman HilaluNunaqhi qaunagilugu itrˆuhia atuqiginiarlugu hilam nunavlu.Atlat Qainiaqtuat NirrˆutitAtlakayariit nirrˆutit atlanin nunanin qairˆgalirniaqtut apikrˆugaihiaqtut qanuq tamakuaHavautiginiaqmagata ihumiurutikrˆat inugiaktuat tutqiakrˆat ikayuqtigiikluhi.12NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Khehåòk Natr’igwijìlzhii Kat GogwandàkTr’oochìt gogwandàk gwizhìt zrit, “Nin Nihåinehch’ì’ kat Jidìi Iisrits’àt Gàtr’oo’aih”gatr’oozrii, zhik Northwest Territories gwizhìt khehåòk gòonlii geenjit nàtr’igiinjiigehkhee ts’àt jii geenjit tthak gatr’agwaandak ts’àt aii khehåòk nichii United NationsConvention on Biological Diversity kat chan gòo Nihtat Ginjih Gadaaghoo GwizhìtNin Nihtat Gòonlii Geenjit zhàn nilih. Khaii gwitak gwinyàanch’uu zrit gwiyendoo hàhgoo’àih: aii geenjit jùk dagòonch’uu geenjit khehåàk nàtr’ìniinlik.Aii geenjit shòh hàh jii gwandak chan nakhwantå’àh dhàachuh zhik NWT ts’àt Canadagwizhìt tthak geenjit. Jii t’at nits’oots’àt gwitr’it t’agwàa’ii geenjit gòonlii ts’àt tthakgwak’òo geenjit tr’igiinjii gòo’aih. Jidìi iisrits’àt nakhwàh gòonlii gwakak akòot’àgweedi’in’ ts’àt nakhwanankak gwizhìt gehkhee ts’àt vik’ìighe’ duulèh gwîîzrii akòot’ìidì’in gàhgwiheedandaih. Zhik zrit UNCBD gogàhnuu kat chan iisrits’àt gòonlii gàhtr’oo’aih jidìi diiyeenjit gwik’ìt gòonlih geenjit. Jii tthak hàh yeendoo tthak duulèh akòot’ahiidì’yaa geenjit gah’ìidàndaih.Tthak ts’àt jidìi hàh gwitr’it t’atr’agwah’in’ gwizhìt gootanoh’yaa jì’ gadiinjiidìjii akòots’àt uundòo jì’ nits’oots’àt ejùk gwatàatsaa gòo diidavee gwiheezaa geenjit nakhwàhgoondak gwiiniindhan zhik NWT ts’àt diinagoo’ee nankak tthak geenjit.Juudìn kat govoozrì’ gwakakgwidinùhtå’oo zrit zhik gwizhìtgwahnoh’yaa ts’àt geetàk heeejùk natr’agwahtsii,8 www. nwtwildlife.comIisrits’àt Gatr’igîîkhii• Nin eenjit ìizuu gòodlit• Nan K’àndehnahtii• DachantatGwit’agwijâhch’uu• Nin nihåinehch’ì’gwit’àinji’tr’adahch’uu• Zheetìi ejùk gòonlii• Ts’àt nin ejùk gòonlii diitatgòodlitJii Khehåòk giiyàh akòo t’òkhwe’ii yinohthan jì’ geenjit gòhthan ohåih. Akòot’òkhwe’ih jì’ åi’ hàh shòh vìidìli’.Åôô hàh,NWT Nin Nihåinehch’ì’ Gàtr’oo’aih Kat Goots’atNorthern Mountain Woodland Caribou, yearlings © Parks CanadaGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 13

Jidìi Iisrits’àt GwiiniindhanNagwidàdhat ihåok gwijùutin gwàndòo gwinjik zrit jidìi iisrits’àt nakhweenjit gòo’aihjii edìnehtå’eh gwizhìt gwidinithàtå’oo gòonlih. Srii t’agwinyàanch’uu zhik gwizhìtgwidinùutå’oo ts’àt natanoh’yaa.Jidìi Nin Geenjit Gwìizuu Goovàh GòonlihTth’aih hee nin geenjit gwìizuu goovàh gòonlii geh’àn guk’àgwatahthat ts’àtguk’atr’ahnahtyaa khehåòk nihåe’ejùk t’agidich’uu zhik NWT gwizhìt tthak geenjit.Nan K’àtr’inahtiiJuudìn nan k’àtr’ìnahtii ts’àt nin hàh tthak nits’oots’àt goots’àt tr’itr’iinjii geenjitgehkhee ts’àt yee’ok jidìi tthak geenjit gwîîzrii guk’àtr’àhnahtyaa geenjit gòonlii. Åi’hàh guk’àgwataadhat geenjit diinjitr’idijii.Dachan TatDachan tat geenjit dàgwìdîî’e’ gogwahtsii gwinjik goots’at tr’itr’iinjii nihtat gwiteezaageenjit akoo ts’àt nan, nin ts’àt jidìi gwit’àgwijâhch’uu yee’ok nan kak gwizhìt ts’àtgwakak NWT gwà’àn geenjit gòonlih.Chuu zhìt Åuk akòo dìinch’ii Gwit’àgwìjâhch’uu GeenjitT’àgwâhch’ii nin tr’oonjii NWT gwizhìt danh jidìi nin daazhaa geenjit gwiteezaaguk’andehtr’ahnahtyaa geenjit.Yeedàk Zheetìi Zhìt Ejùk NagwithilitYeedàk zheetìi zhìt ejùk nagwithilit geenjit nits’oots’àt guk’àndehtr’inahtii geenjit ts’àtnits’òo gàh khatr’aandaih.Izhii Nin Daazhaa Diitat GogwandaiiNin izhii nankak diitat gòonlii geenjit nits’oots’àt nakhwanin tthak gàh gòo’aih geenjitts’àt guk’àndehtr’inahtih. Duulèh khehåòk nagwijilzhii yee’òk gwà’àn tthak geenjitgatr’oodahkat ts’àt gagootadhahch’yaa.14NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

IntroductionThe NWT Biodiversity Action Plan project was initiated in 2001 with the help of manycollaborators who formed a NWT Biodiversity Team. The objectives of the Team wereto prepare a list of NWT biodiversity actions currently underway by all groups in theNWT, to analyze gaps and overlaps between commitments and actions, and to makerecommendations for future actions.First StepThe first report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan, Major Initiatives on Biodiversity, wasprovided to the public in April 2004.It is an attempt to list all actions related tobiodiversity currently under way in the NWT. Thisreport is available in paper form as well as on8 www.nwtwildlife.com. Most of the 500 NWTbiodiversity actions listed in the report involvedthe close collaboration of more than one NWTorganization, agency or group. All actions in thereport are also listed in the NWT BiodiversityAction Plan – Matrix (8 www.nwtwildlife.com)which is updated frequently as more initiatives are undertaken.Accordingto the UNCBDBiodiversity means “thevariability among livingorganisms from all sources,including inter alia, terrestrial,marine and other aquaticecosystems, and the ecologicalcomplexes of which they arepart; this includes diversitywithin species, between speciesand of ecosystems.”8 www.biodiv.orgInter alia?Latin for “among other things”.Second StepIn December 2004, the Team met to start work on the second report of the NWTBiodiversity Action Plan.This second report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan looks for overlaps in biodiversityactions, suggests ways to streamline current actions and increase collaboration, andrecommends new initiatives. The second report also looks for gaps between ourcommitments under the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy and our actions. The NWTBiodiversity Team used the matrix to compare what we have already accomplished towhat is expected at international and national levels.The Team drafted strategic recommendations to resolve priority biodiversity issues.Prioritizing required a review of each goal of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy from thecontext of NWT.The Team used a set of guiding principles to draft each recommendation to ensure thatrecommendations would reflect best practices and effective approaches used in the NWTand elsewhere around the world.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 15

The Team developed a Biodiversity Vision to guide us duringthe analysis and to remind us that biodiversity planning is donefor both present and future generations.

The Northwest Territories ContextChallenges related to ecologically sustainable development and the conservation ofbiodiversity exist in the Northwest Territories.• The NWT has a dual economy.Modern development involving wage employment and often large-scale enterprisesco-exists with a traditional economy based on subsistence wildlife harvesting. Thevalue of biological resources may be greatly underestimated if the importance oftraditional use is measured only in terms of monetary value.• There is increasing pressure on northern ecosystems.The NWT is experiencing increased non-renewable resource development andunprecedented land and water use. Our ecosystem is affected by industrial activitiesboth within and outside our borders, but we have limited capacity to investigate thecombined impacts of these activities.• There are areas where land claims are outstanding.Land claim settlement agreements reached in many areas of the NWT clarified rulesand responsibilities for resource development and gave more control to the people.However, land claims in much of the NWT are still unsettled and it is difficult to identifyopportunities and establish partnerships when responsibilities and ownership areunclear.• Changes in the economy are out-pacing the capacity of northern communitiesto adapt to change.The capacity of NWT communities to make decisions related to their own environment,their social health, and their use of biological resources has increased significantlyduring the past decades. This capacity now may be stressed due to increasingexpectations and high personnel turnover rates.Caribou © J. Nagy/ENRGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 19

On the other hand, major opportunities related to ecologically sustainable developmentand the protection of biological resources exist in the Northwest Territories. Similaropportunities do not exist in most areas of Canada and around the world.• The NWT is vast and relatively pristine.The development of roads, cutlines and other infrastructure carves up a landscape andreduces its ability to support wildlife populations. Habitat fragmentation is one of themost important contributors to the loss of biological diversity in temperate regions.In the NWT, wildlife species and ecosystems are relatively pristine and undisturbed,so we have the opportunity to gather basic information and reduce the effects offragmentation at a wide range of spatial scales.• The NWT is home to people with complementary forms of knowledge.Our understanding of our ecosystems and of how best to preserve their integritywill be stronger if we incorporate all forms of knowledge, including scientific andtraditional ecological knowledge.• The NWT has a vibrant economy.Today, the economy of the NWT is growing and diversifying. We have the opportunityto follow an ecologically sustainable path if we invest in northern-based, innovativetechnologies related to the environment and energy, invest in remediation of pastindustrial impacts, and invest in an effective process for assessing and mitigating futurecumulative impacts.Vast and pristine © T. Macintosh20NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Guiding Principlesfor Biodiversity Actions in the NWTThe following principles guided the NWT Biodiversity Team during the analysis anddevelopment of recommendations. The principles are organized into five approachesrepresenting best practices for biodiversity actions in the NWT. These were closely basedon the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, but revised for the NWT context.P Ecosystem-based Approach• All life forms, including humans, are ultimately connected to all other life forms.• An ecological approach to resource management is central to conservingbiological diversity and using our biological resources in a sustainable manner.• Healthy, evolving ecosystems and the maintenance of natural processesare prerequisites for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use ofbiological resources.î Social Involvement and Cultural Best Practices• Biodiversity has ecological, economic, social, cultural and intrinsic values; hence,development decisions must reflect ecological, economic, social, cultural andintrinsic values.• All NWT residents depend on biodiversity and have a responsibility tocontribute to biodiversity conservation and to use biological resources in asustainable manner.• All NWT residents should be encouraged to understand and appreciate the valueof biological diversity and to participate in decisions involving the use of our air,water, land and other resources.˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• The conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of biologicalresources require local, regional, provincial, territorial, national and globalcooperation and a sharing of knowledge, costs and benefits.i Best Information Approach• The conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of biologicalresources should be carried out using the best knowledge available andapproaches should be refined as new knowledge is gained.• The knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and localcommunities should be respected, and their use and maintenance carried outwith the support and involvement of these communities.G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Legislative measures and economic incentives should be effective toolsto support the conservation of biodiversity and to ensure the ecologicallysustainable development of northern resources.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 21

The AnalysisUN Conventionon Biological DiversityThe Convention promotes threemain objectives:• The conservation ofbiodiversity;• The sustainable use ofbiological resources; and• The fair and equitablesharing of benefits arisingfrom the use of geneticresources.The Convention and itsthree objectives represent anincreasing awareness worldwideof both the value of biodiversityand the increasingly severethreats that it faces.Find more: 8 www.biodiv.orgCanadianBiodiversity StrategyThe Canadian BiodiversityStrategy (CBS) is Canada’sprimary response to theConvention: a nationalframework that puts theConvention into a Canadiancontext.• Goal 1 – Conservation andSustainable Use• Goal 2 – EcologicalManagement• Goal 3 – Education andAwareness• Goal 4 – Legislation andIncentives• Goal 5 – InternationalCooperationDeveloping Analytic ToolsTools to track how well the NWT is implementing the United Nation Convention of BiologicalDiversity (UNCBD) and the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (CBS) were developed in a waythat provided a visual representation of our efforts and was systematic and easy to apply. TheNWT Biodiversity Team looked at tools developed by other jurisdictions and other countriesand chose then modified tools to satisfy our requirements.Goal 1 – Conservation and Sustainable Use describes ways to implement the “core”components of the UN CBS in a Canadian context. The Team has developed a tool foreach theme in Goal 1 described in the first report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan,with the addition of Invasive Alien Species. 1 An analysis of how the NWT is meeting itscommitments on the themes of Goal 1 reveals how we are implementing the essentialcore components of the UN CBS in a NWT context.Although the Team used Goal 1 of the CBS as the core of the analysis, we alsoincorporated the themes covered in the remaining goals of the CBS in each analytictool. The remaining goals of the CBS are Goal 2 – Ecological Management, Goal 3 –Education and Awareness, Goal 4 – Legislation and Incentives, Goal 5 – InternationalCooperation. These goals describe, in more detail, useful strategies to implementall “core” Goal 1 components using Canadian approaches and practices related tomanagement, education, legislation and cooperation.Using the ToolsIn February 2005, a workshop was held in Yellowknife to use the tools to conducta formal gap/overlap analysis of biodiversity actions in the NWT. The results of thisworkshop and subsequent work using the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan web page formthe basis of the present report.Find more: 8 www.eman-rese.ca/eman/reports/publications/rt_biostrat/intro.html1Invasive Alien Species was not included in the First Report on Contributions – NWT Biodiversity Action Plan because nomajor NWT-wide actions had been undertaken by 2003. The Report, however, provided a facts box on the subject.22NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

The Team chose to represent the results of each analysis using a “web of life” image.This symbol reflects the interdependency of all components of biodiversity in the NWT.The web’s five anchor points represent the five approaches of our guiding principles forBiodiversity Actions in the NWT.PEcosystemîSocial/CulturalBiodiversityin Other WordsThe web of life• dè = the Land in Dogrib• Dè = Earth• Nungorutitailinahuanik =conservation in Inuvialuktun• Ecosystem = all thingsinfused with life, includingrocks (Dene meaning)G12345˛LegislationCooperationiInformationThe web is a subjective tool that provides a visual representation of how well theNWT is doing in terms of biodiversity actions. A full, symmetrical web represents fullimplementation of best and innovative practices under each approach, leading to theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the NWT. A web that is asymmetrical,or very small, reflects the need for more innovation, coordination or actions.Web Core – Proposed Objectives Linking to theUN Convention on Biological DiversityThe UNCBD provides us with some essential components that should be part of ourefforts towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Team referred tothe UNCBD to propose one main objective for each theme that would provide the corefor each set of recommendations.Question Strands – Linking Our Approaches to theCanadian Biodiversity StrategyThe analysis tool contains questions grouped into the five approaches based on theGuiding Principles for Biodiversity Actions in the NWT. The Team drafted these questionsfrom relevant strategies in the CBS. Each set of questions is arranged so that when wecompare our commitments to our actions, we can easily find gaps and overlaps.Ranking Our Efforts – AnalysisDuring the analysis, the Team ranked how well the NWT’s biodiversity actions comparedto the best practices and innovative approaches described in each question strand. Theranking score goes from « 0 » Not Applicable to « 5 » Leading and Innovative PracticesApplied. After ranking our average performance, the Team provided comments and moreinformation on the rationale behind a particular rank. These ranks and comments weused to find relevant gaps and overlaps in our actions.RankingOur Efforts0: Not applicable1: Practice not applied2: Practice applied partiallybut not progressing3: Practice applied partiallyand is progressing4: Best practices appliedacross the board5: Leading and innovativepractices appliedGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 23

Improving Our Actions – RecommendationsThere is always room for improvement. The Web of Life tool is designed to help anyonedevelop strategic suggestions to better our practices regarding biodiversity.The Team provided three types of recommendations:• “New” Recommendations: strategies to help NWT organizations review or developnew actions that would significantly help to fill gaps or increase efficiencies over thenext ten years.• “Enhance” Recommendations: strategies already proposed or implemented that,if enhanced, would help significantly in filling gaps or in increasing efficiencies inbiodiversity actions over the next ten years.• “Continue” Recommendations: existing key strategies that are already significantin fulfilling some biodiversity commitments in the NWT and should continue to beimplemented.Each recommendation leads to actions that fulfill both national and internationalcommitments using best practices and innovative approaches.The Team provided Measures of Success that can work as milestones or measurableoutcomes to help ensure that each recommendation is achievable and to help track thesuccess of their implementation.Anyone can use the analysis tools at any time to independently provide input on how wecan work together on future biodiversity actions in the NWT. These tools are available at8 www.nwtwildlife.com.24NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Team’s Findingsand Recommendations

1. Species at RiskWestern Toad, a species of special concern © C. MachtansObjectiveProtect species in the Northwest Territories that are at risk and prevent species frombecoming in danger of extirpation due to human activities.GLegislationPEcosystemîSocial/Cultural˛CooperationTeam’s OverviewVery few species are at risk of extirpation or extinction in the NWT.Because of our large tracts of relatively pristine habitat, low humanpopulation densities and complementary knowledge systems, the NWThas unique opportunities to be at the forefront of recovery efforts forspecies that are at risk in North America and the Arctic.Current NWT approaches to species at risk initiatives include strongcooperative efforts, but our ability to gather information on speciesbefore they become at risk appears to require more effort.iInformationSpecies at RiskP Ecosystem-based Approach• Do we develop and implement recovery plans for all species at risk (SAR)?• Do we use landscape/waterscape-level approaches to plan the recovery of SAR?• Do we determine, through monitoring or research, the ecological requirements of all SAR, including habitatrequirements?• Can any species, in any taxonomic group, be assessed in a detailed fashion?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessA rare species in the NW,T Philadelphia Vireo © C. MachtansOverall Rank = 2.5:Practice applied partially but progressing slowly.Management and recovery plans do exist, but someSAR still require recovery planning. Not all species orhabitats are covered by the current SAR process.Best practices for including SAR in impactassessments are needed.1.1 “Enhance”Enhance the detailed assessment process of speciesat risk to cover all species and habitats.1.2 “Enhance”Continue to develop ecosystem-based recoveryand management plans for all SAR in the NWT;coordinate with all applicable legislation, includingthe federal Species at Risk Act.1.3 “New”Develop mitigation measures and best practices forimpact assessment for all SAR in the NWT; coordinatewith all applicable legislation.• Creation of a committeeto assess, in a detailedfashion, SAR in the NWT.• Increase in number ofSAR for which there arerecovery/managementplanning efforts.• Developed best practicesfor including SAR in theimpact assessment process,including mitigationmeasures.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SPECIES AT RISK 27

Species at Risk (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Does local participation, including Aboriginal governments, communities and the public, in species recovery efforts occurfrom the early planning phase through to implementation?• Do we integrate economic and social objectives with recovery objectives?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.5:Practice applied partially and is progressing in aninnovative fashion.The co-management system is well established inthe NWT and forms the backbone of consultationand cooperation on SAR. This system is regardedas innovative and is rare elsewhere in the world.Consultation and cooperation is less efficient in areaswithout settled land claims.We need more coordination to increase capacity/awareness on SAR. Conferences (or a forum) on SARissues in other jurisdictions have been very successfulin sharing information.1.4 “Continue”Continue to work, primarily through the comanagementsystem, towards management andrecovery planning involving all NWT groups interestedin SAR in the NWT.1.5 “Enhance”Investigate how a forum on species at risk wouldhelp all groups in the NWT increase their capacity,enhance awareness and help exchange ideas onassessment and recovery issues for SAR.• Full participation of localparties and integrationof local social values in allrecovery and managementplanning.• Successful Species at Riskforum.˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Do we participate and support COSEWIC, RENEW and new programs?• Do we participate in international mechanisms that regulate or control trade in species at risk?• Do we participate in the recovery of migratory and transboundary species at risk?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.4:Practice applied partially and is progressing in asomewhat innovative fashion.GNWT signed the Accord for the Protection ofSpecies at Risk in 2004.Organizations in the NWT participate in all workinggroups and committees set up in Canada on SAR.Organizations in the NWT participate in the recoveryand management of trans-boundary SAR.GNWT is the scientific and regulatory authorityon CITES (Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species).1.6 “Continue”Continue to coordinate our efforts with others inCanada and other circumpolar regions on all workrelated to northern species at risk. In particular,continue to participate in RENEW, COSEWIC and inrelevant programs of the Arctic Council.• All appropriate NWTorganizations participatein each establishednational and internationalcooperative process.Threatened species, Boreal Caribou © J. Nagy/ENR28 SPECIES AT RISKNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Species at Risk (cont.)i Best Information Approach• Do we inventory and do a general assessment of the biological status of all taxonomic groups and establish aharmonized database to share information within Canada and other countries?• Do we have harmonized methodologies to assess the status of species at risk between federal and territorialgovernments?• Do we participate in information systems on SAR within Canada and with other countries?• Do we evaluate the success of recovery efforts?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.7:Practice applied partially and slowly progressing.NWT organizations perform a general assessment ofthe status of NWT species and exchange informationwith others in Canada and internationally, but notsystematically and with some lack of efficiencies dueto differing methodologies.Information on rare and lesser-known NWT species isneeded to better investigate and protect rare speciesbefore they are at risk. Much of that informationexists elsewhere, but is not available to NWTorganizations.Information on the success of recovery efforts isavailable where recovery planning and monitoringwas performed.1.7 “Continue”Continue research, monitoring and traditionalknowledge studies on the distribution, abundance,threats and habitats of species at risk in the NWT.1.8 “Enhance”Enhance monitoring and research capacity on alllesser-known species, rare species and SAR in theNWT.1.9 “Enhance”Enhance our ability to share information amongstNWT organizations on all species, in particularSAR, by harmonizing methodologies, developingdata-sharing agreements and other systems asappropriate; continue improving the analytical GIScapacity in NWT and continue to support the datawarehouse initiative.1.10 “New”Obtain data and information on rare species fromdatabases and repositories in Canada and elsewhere,and make this data and information available toresearchers, land managers and other decisionmakers in the NWT. Investigate a Conservation DataCentre (NatureServe) as a way to store and exchangeinformation, and enhance monitoring on rare speciesand ecosystems in the NWT.• Percent of SAR for whichmonitoring or researchprograms apply.• Percent of species pertaxonomic level forwhich we have enoughinformation to determinethe general status.• Harmonized and fullyoperationaldata andinformation sharingsystems on SAR and otherspecies, including usingGIS.• Percent of informationon NWT species knownto exist in Canadaand elsewhere that isrepatriated or madeavailable to NWT decisionmakers.G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Do we have federal and territorial legislation to protect species at risk and their habitat?• Are SAR legislative approaches harmonized in the NWT?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3:Practice applied partially but progressing.The federal Species at Risk Act is in place.Complementary legislation for the NWT is beingdeveloped.1.11 “Enhance”Continue to develop NWT SAR legislation,harmonizing with all applicable legislation, includingSpecies at Risk Act and land claim legislation.• Legislative tools are inplace to be able to assessand recover species at risk;these tools can apply to allhabitats and species in theNWT.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SPECIES AT RISK 29

2. Protected AreasNahanni National Park Reserve © D. Tate/Parks CanadaObjectiveComplete and maintain a system of protected areas that is representative of the NorthwestTerritories’ terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecosystems, that protects areas of special naturaland cultural value, and that protects biodiversity and ensures appropriate management ofthese protected areas and surrounding areas.PEcosystemîSocial/CulturalTeam’s OverviewThe NWT has successfully developed a Protected Areas Strategy (PAS).This Strategy is regarded as one of the most significant efforts oncoordination and social involvement in the planning for future protectedareas in North America. In addition, new National Parks have beencreated in the North, with extensive input from communities.GLegislationi˛CooperationIn contrast to many jurisdictions in Canada and the Arctic, settingup a co-management regime for existing protected areas and theirsurroundings is the norm in the NWT.Completing new protected areas in the NWT may be slow and onerous,but it is performed with a vision shared by everyone. The Team’s findingson protected areas efforts reflect this.InformationElders’ gathering © PAS/ENR30 PROTECTED AREASNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Protected AreasP Ecosystem-based Approach• Do we use a landscape/waterscape-level approach that helps integrate economic and social objectives with conservationobjectives when we identify and establish protected areas?• Do we ensure the ecological integrity of protected areas is maintained?• Are we improving ecological planning to assist in the conservation of biodiversity in or near sensitive areas, in areas thatsupport populations of endemic, threatened or endangered species, and in areas that are undergoing significant changesresulting from human activity and development?• Do we re-connect fragmented areas and maintain connectivity in ecosystems by providing corridors and protectinghabitats for isolated species or populations?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.1:Practice applied partially and progressing.Protecting ecological integrity is the first priority forParks Canada and a major goal of the NWT-PAS.However, there are serious data gaps regardingspecific species and biodiversity in the NWT.Goal 2 of the NWT-PAS addresses ecological values.We still have work to do to achieve this goal. TheNWT-PAS Mackenzie Valley Five-Year Action Plan willhelp improve ecological planning in the MackenzieValley area.More marine and watershed protected areas areneeded. Protection in the North has been morefocused on the terrestrial component. However,communities have brought the protection of waterthrough a watershed approach forward.New park establishments should consider watersheds,species ranges, etc.Fragmentation is not yet a major problem in theNWT. Prevention of fragmentation and maintainingconnectivity are aspects of the NWT-PAS ActionPlan. As well, protecting habitats is a major functionof National Parks; connections have a role in parkestablishment/expansion. Progress is being made.2.1 “New”Consider marine or aquatic representation whenplanning protected areas.2.2 “Continue”Continue to develop and implement monitoringprograms, management plans and agreements toensure that the ecological integrity of protected areasis maintained.2.3 “Enhance”Work towards the completion of mappingmethodology that incorporates information at thelandscape and waterscape-level in the selection ofnew protected areas.2.4 “Continue”Continue active participation in land use planninginitiatives to ensure that ecosystem level planningoccurs and continue to identify areas for NationalParks according to the System Plan for National Parksin Canada.• Completed investigationinto the creation ofa marine or aquaticprotected area in the NWT.• Completed monitoringand management plansfor all NWT protectedareas.• Completed non-renewableresource potentialmapping and completedecological representationmapping as described inthe NWT-PAS Five-YearMackenzie Valley ActionPlan, Task 1A.• Completion of Dehcho,Sahtu and potentiallyTłıcho land use plansthat are based on theprinciples of ecologicalintegrity and initiation ofland use planning in otherareas as required.Studying PAS candidate, Ts’ude’hliline-Tuyetah © D. Mulders/CWSGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS PROTECTED AREAS 31

Protected Areas (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Do we use open and meaningful public and stakeholder participation processes to ensure that social, cultural andecological factors are considered in the establishment of protected areas?• Do we manage human activities in and around protected areas in consultation with communities and interestedstakeholders?• Do we deliver effective education programs on biodiversity conservation by integrating themes and messages, includingon protected areas, into the formal educational curriculum?• Do we have effective interpretive programs in or about each protected area?• Do we promote public awareness of biodiversity issues through periodic reports, fact sheets, electronic informationsystems and other methods?• Do we coordinate biodiversity education and awareness programs among organizations responsible for protected areasand other organizations?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessNahanni National Park Reserve © D. Tate/Parks CanadaOverall Rank = 3.2:Practice applied partially and is progressing mostly inan innovative fashion.The NWT-PAS is a community initiated and drivenprocess. Meaningful participation in a broad multistakeholderprocess will be an evolving process. Aswell, new park establishment with Parks Canada is anopen participatory process.Until this point, identification of sites has beenprimarily, although not exclusively, based on cultural/special significance from the community’s perspective.Under the NWT-PAS, management guidelines aredeveloped in consultation with communities andstakeholders.Legislation directs human activities in all NWTprotected areas. Land use planning is one of themain tools that address human activities outside ofprotected areas.Limited education materials and programs onbiodiversity conservation have been developed.NWT National Parks have a wide variety ofinterpretive media and approaches, includinginnovative on-site interpretation of biodiversity andculture by Aboriginal people.Limited reports, fact sheets and electronic informationhave been developed to promote public awareness ofbiodiversity issues.2.5 “Continue”Continue to improve communication andengagement with all participants in the NWT-PAS. Communicate information in a clear andunderstandable manner. Investigate the use ofsimultaneous translation services, when possible, toimprove communications with communities.2.6 “Continue”Continue to include economic factors as aconsideration in establishing protected areas.2.7 “Enhance”Where opportunities arise and with the input ofcommunities, participate in and contribute toeducation programs, in particular programs that aremore hands-on, culturally specific and demonstratedto be effective; continue to develop, implement andevaluate effective interpretative programs withinprotected areas.2.8 “Continue”Continue to work with communities on developmentof cumulative effects thresholds for land uses andintegrate these into land use plans, as appropriate.2.9 “Enhance”Increase profile/level of awareness of NWT protectedareas and biodiversity conservation, using the internetand other methods, such as biodiversity reports, factsheets and electronic information, as appropriate.• Release of NWT-PASmaterials in plainlanguage and translatedin appropriate officiallanguages to improvecommunication.• Economic factors areformally part of theprocess of establishinga new protected areaand socio-economicimpact/benefit analysesare completed for allproposed protected areasin NWT.• Completion ofcurriculum/education orinterpretative projectsthat are relevant to eachprotected area in the NWTand coordinated to form acomprehensive educationand awareness program.• Completion offrameworks to helpintegrate different typesof human activities in andaround protected areas,and frameworks usedto develop quantitativecumulative effectsthresholds.• Improved publicawareness on protectedareas and biodiversityissues in the NWT and theNorth.32 PROTECTED AREASNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Protected Areas (cont.)˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Do we coordinate our efforts to conserve ecosystems, especially to protect unique or special areas, species andecosystems at risk, endemic species and critical habitats to support populations of wild plants and animals, includingtrans- boundary species?• Do we promote the development of agreements between governments and local and Indigenous communities for thevoluntary allocation of land for conservation purposes?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.75:Practice applied partially and is mostly progressing.Because there are three inter-connected processesfor selecting and establishing protected areas in theNWT, increased coordination is essential to ensurethat limited resources are used effectively.NWT protected area processes include the NWT-PAS, the Parks Canada National Park System Planother federal processes to establish Migratory BirdSanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas, and landuse planning and withdrawal under Land SettlementAgreements.NWT-PAS promotes the development of agreementsfor the creation of protected areas. In addition,Parks Canada does contribute to, participate in andsupport land use planning and the NWT-PAS.NWT-PAS should improve coordination withsponsoring agencies by involving them as early aspossible in the planning process.2.10 “Continue”Continue implementation of the Protected AreasStrategy to protect special natural and cultural areasand, in particular, to protect representative coreareas within each NWT ecoregion.2.11 “Enhance”Improve coordination among conservation, landuse planning and development agencies to increaseefficient use of resources and reduce the burden oncommunity capacity.2.12 “Enhance”Involve potential sponsoring agencies as early aspossible in the NWT-PAS process.• Successful completion ofthe NWT-PAS Five-YearMackenzie Valley ActionPlan, with the creationof at least one protectedarea that supports Goal 2of the NWT-PAS.• All agencies and partnersare aware of each other’sinitiatives and of howthey can coordinate theirefforts.• Guidelines for earlyinvolvement of sponsoringagencies are includedas part of the NWT-PASprocess.Muskox at Aulavik National Park © S. Baryluk/Parks CanadaGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS PROTECTED AREAS 33

Protected Areas (cont.)i Best Information Approach• Do we prepare, and have the capacity to prepare, policies and inventories to support the establishment of protected areas?• Do we prepare, and have the capacity to prepare and implement, in consultation with stakeholders and volunteers, plans,guidelines and monitoring programs to support the management of protected areas?• Do we participate in information systems on protected areas within Canada and with other countries?• Are we continuing to develop information management systems, such as GIS, that facilitate the rapid analysis anddistribution of data and information on present and future protected areas?• Do we use biodiversity indicators that are meaningful, scientifically defensible, practical and compatible with regional,territorial, national and international programs to monitor changes in protected areas?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.1:Practice applied partially and isprogressing.More focus on species and ecosystemsis needed in selecting protected areas,but capacity is limited. Governmentsand NGOs already participate in variousnational and international informationsystems.Base data are lacking in the North toprovide for a comprehensive landscape/waterscape-level approach. There areserious data gaps regarding rare speciesand biodiversity in general.The development of species maps shouldfocus on mapping rare and endemicspecies first as well as species of interestto communities.A standardized approach to inventoriesshould be developed, once objectiveshave been established, to determinewhat an inventory will accomplish.2.13 “New”Develop species maps, with a focus on rare and endemicspecies, and improve the state of knowledge on biodiversity andecologically important areas.2.14 “Continue”Continue mapping areas of human use and development interest,including cumulative impacts.2.15 “Continue”Continue to work with all government agencies involved inbiodiversity monitoring in the NWT, and develop data sharingagreements and a standardized approach to inventories asrequired.2.16 “New”Develop biodiversity and ecological integrity indicators relevantfor NWT parks, and link to national and international biodiversityindicators and information systems, as appropriate.2.17 “Continue”Continue Parks Canada’s ecological integrity indicators andmonitoring program.• Completed official rangemaps of one group ofspecies, in particular rarespecies.• Up-to-date maps of humanuse and developmentinterest available to allorganizations involved inestablishing protected areas.• Completed Spatial DataWarehouse Initiative wherestandard monitoringprotocols and data sharingagreements are developedand used.• National and internationallyrelevant biodiversityindicators are developed forall parks in the NWT.• Ecological integrityindicators completedand monitoring programimplemented.G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Do we use interim protection measures so that candidate protected areas are not compromised by development?• Do we have the appropriate legislation to implement the establishment and management of protected areas?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.75:Practice applied partially and is slowlyprogressing but in an innovative manner.Interim withdrawals occur, but processis slow.Interim protection may not be the onlyanswer. Need to use tools to protectsensitive areas that don’t have interimprotection, e.g. land use planningprocesses, use of best practices forindustry.The NWT-PAS has no management role,so outside agencies and their partners areresponsible for management under theirrespective legislation of areas designated.2.18 “New”Improve NWT-PAS process to ensure efficiency and effective use ofprogram money.2.19 “Enhance”Improve process of getting to Interim Protection, so that it is fasterand more efficient; improve integration with land use planning asa way to make protected areas planning more efficient.2.20 “New”Investigate the amendment of the Canadian Mining Regulationsto recognize interim withdrawal.2.21 “Enhance”Explore ways that Aboriginal sponsorship can be recognizedand used in the NWT-PAS, and increase capacity for sponsoringagencies to support areas advanced through the NWT-PAS.• Completed process review.• Completion of land useplans.• Report on how the CanadianMining Regulations can beamended to facilitate landwithdrawals.• Area advanced under theNWT-PAS that is sponsoredby an agency other than thefederal government.34 PROTECTED AREASNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

3. Sustainable ForestsForest Peat Plateau © D. DowningObjectiveSustainable use of forest resources and maintenance of biodiversity in forested areas in theNorthwest Territories.GLegislationPEcosystemîSocial/Cultural˛CooperationTeam’s OverviewSustainable forest management practices are the basis for forestmanagement programming in the NWT. Tools and processes are beingdeveloped to assist with landscape level forest management.Forest management is the responsibility of the GNWT. Standards, policiesand legislation are being updated to reflect current management practices.Significant advances in information gathering and new initiatives in longtermmonitoring are creating a better basis for future forest managementand land use decisions.iInformationStudying forest ecosystems © Forest Management/ENRGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SUSTAINABLE FORESTS 35

Sustainable ForestsP Ecosystem-based Approach• Do we implement landscape-level forest management plans and codes of practices that provide for the sustainable use of forestswhile maintaining the regional forest mosaic, i.e. that allow for or mimic natural disturbance regimes and natural processes?• Do we have forest management policies, programs and practices that reduce to acceptable levels the adverse impacts of forestedland use on watersheds, soils and adjacent ecosystems and species, so that the long-term integrity of ecosystems are supported?• Do we restore or rehabilitate degraded forest ecosystems (for example, using forest renewal practices) in a manner that will makea significant contribution to conserving biodiversity?• Do we manage forest pests in an integrated way so that we eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels the adverse impacts on nontargetspecies and ecosystems?• Have we developed and implemented programs to conserve the genetic diversity of tree species in situ conditions?• Are we participating in forest seed and gene banks to conserve the genetic diversity of tree species?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.5:Practice applied partially but progressing.Forest management activities are guided by asustainable development policy, which emphasizesthat economic development is sustainable, promotingenvironmental conservation and maintenance ofecosystems.Forest management planning and timber supplyanalyses are carried out in areas where adequateinformation exists. Analyses determine sustainableuse scenarios, accounting for social concerns andecosystem measures. Wildlife habitat is not yetincorporated. The process is only used where data andneed both exist.Standard operating procedures for harvesting arebeing implemented.Planning is ongoing for development of best practicesguidelines.There is a biannual forest health monitoring program.Linkages are maintained with national forest healthmonitoring groups.Seed collection occurs at the regional level as needed.3.1 “Continue”Continue collecting baseline information andinventories, including forest vegetation inventories,development of ecological land classification andforest ecosystem classification in the NWT.3.2 “Enhance”Continue to develop programs and processesthat will accomplish effective forest managementplanning.3.3 “Enhance”Develop standard technical information requirementsfor forest management planning.3.4 “Enhance”Enhance information auditing and enhance updateprocedures for base information sources to helpduring landscape-level forest management.3.5 “Enhance”Continue development of standard operatingprocedures and best practices guidelines for variousbusiness areas.3.6 “New”Develop a forest renewal strategy.• Completed EcologicalLand Classification for theNWT.• Forest managementplanning methodologiesand practices in place.• Completed informationrequirements for forestmanagement planning,including timber supplyanalysis for areas wheresufficient inventoryinformation exists.• Operational auditprocedures in place to linkoutcomes of operationalactivities with predictedvolumes and renewal.• Standard operatingprocedures and forestmanagement plans inplace.• Completed forest renewalstrategy.Jack Pine © Forest Management/ENR36 SUSTAINABLE FORESTSNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Sustainable Forests (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Do we assess our current and proposed major government forest policies and programs to ensure that social, ecological,cultural and ecological factors are considered?• Do we provide quality and efficient training and education opportunities, using both science and traditional ecologicalknowledge methods, to increase the understanding of forest ecosystems and of conservation and sustainable use of forests?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.0:Practice is partially applied and progressing.Public education tools are actively being developed,including web site and extension programming foryouth.Training and community capacity building is needed.3.7 “Continue”Continue to engage First Nations and other publicstakeholders in resource analysis to ensure localconcerns and knowledge is accounted for.3.8 “Enhance”Continue to develop and enhance web site andpublic education materials. Continue developmentof materials and packages for stakeholder andcommunity review and input.3.9 “New”Hold workshops and conferences to provideinformation about new technologies and businessopportunities, and to promote sharing of ideas andknowledge between communities and entrepreneurs.3.10 “New”Develop forest management planning audit processfor continuous improvement, in cooperation withFirst Nations.• Training and informationsharing opportunities onforest management arein place in all forestedregions of the NWT.• Launch of improved NWTForest Management website.• Greater knowledgeand understanding offorest processes andopportunities among thepublic.• Audit process for forestmanagement planning inplace.˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Do we work with Aboriginal governments and others to identify and correct policies that discourage the conservation ofbiodiversity in forested areas and the sustainable use of forest resources?• Do we support multi-disciplinary research, management and policies that assess and promote new uses of timber and nontimberproducts from forests to increase the economic return from forest ecosystems, while conserving biodiversity?• Do we promote the voluntary establishment of codes of environmental management (e.g. Forest Product Certification)?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.2:Practice applied partially and progressing slowly.Consultations with Aboriginal government arerequired under forest management legislation andunder interim measures agreements.Cooperation occurs informally and formally throughforest management planning and regulatoryprocesses.Continue the development of standard operatingprocedures and sustainability indices.3.11 “Enhance”Help develop innovations and grow theentrepreneurship base for sustainable forest economyin the NWT.3.12 “New”Develop sustainability indices for forests in the NWTin collaboration with all groups involved in forest andland management in the NWT, consistent with codesor indices developed across Canada.• Communities orentrepreneurs withnew functioning forestindustries.• Completion of a State ofthe Environment reportwith forest sustainabilityindices.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SUSTAINABLE FORESTS 37

Sustainable Forests (cont.)i Best Information Approach• Are we enhancing our ecological site classification system, including the identification of appropriate locations to establishbase monitoring sites?• Are we enhancing our inventory and monitoring of commercial and non-commercial species, soil, soil biota, climate andother physical characteristics in forested areas?• Are we monitoring the ecological responses of forests to resource management practices and other activities, such as thedevelopment of indicators to monitor trends and support forest conservation and sustainable use at local to national scales?• Are we enhancing our understanding of forest ecological functions by determining the benefits of ecological servicesprovided by forest ecosystems, e.g. carbon sinks investigations?• Are we ensuring that data and information generated by publicly funded studies are made available to potential usersthrough appropriate sharing arrangements?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3:Practice applied partially and progressing.Ecological land classification and forest ecosystemclassification is progressing. Over 100 permanentmonitoring sites are established in the NWT.Forest Management is continually acquiring newforest inventory information with more completecoverage and more detailed attributes. Managementlevel inventories still only exist for a small portion ofthe NWT.The NWT participates in National Criteria andIndicators (C&I) processes and has links to NationalForest Inventory. Long-term forest monitoringprograms are being established. The NWT activelyparticipates and cooperates in investigations,however, information is often lacking.Currently developing processes to disseminateinformation. Efforts at collaboration with othergroups to share information are underway.3.13 “Continue ”Continue to collect baseline information, include useof forest permanent plot monitoring programs.3.14 “Continue”Continue the review and update of a NWT EcologicalLand Classification System.3.15 “Continue”Continue to develop information managementprocesses to ensure usability of information.3.16 “New”Develop a suite of sustainability indices to measurefunctionality of forest ecosystems. These may includecumulative effects indicators, those pertaining to C&Ior internal GNWT measures.• NWT-wide baselinevegetation informationexists; establishedforest permanent plotmonitoring programs.• Completed EcologicalLand Classification forNWT.• Completed ForestInformation ManagementSystem.• Completion of a State ofthe Environment reportwith forest sustainabilityindices.G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Are we ensuring that economic, trade, conservation and sustainable forest resource-use laws and policies are mutuallysupportive?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 1.5:Practice partially applied and not progressing.Forest legislation is being reviewed; the concept of“sustainable ecosystem” will be integrated into newlegislation.Forest policy will provide a framework for programdevelopment.3.17 “Continue”Continue to update forest legislation and harmonizewith all applicable legislation, including land claimlegislation, to develop better tools for the sustainableuse of forests in the NWT.3.18 “New”Draft forest policies specific to the NWT, supportingthe work of both forest managers and other land andresource managers.• Updated forest legislation.• New NWT forest policies.38 SUSTAINABLE FORESTSNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

4. Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic SpeciesSpruce Grouse © R. KennedyObjectiveManage all harvested wild species within sustainable harvest levels, using the best availableinformation and respecting traditional cultural practices in the Northwest Territories.PEcosystemîSocial/CulturalTeam’s OverviewThe integration of traditional and cultural practices in the managementsystem is one of the key components of the co-management system.With a co-management system in place in most areas of the NWT, weare gaining valuable experience in integrating best practices to bettermanage activities leading to the sustainable use of biodiversity.GLegislationiInformation˛CooperationThe NWT is experiencing increased pressures on its wildlife. In the past,sustainability was assured because pressures were relatively low andmanageable. Today’s pressures, including climate change and increasedindustry demands on habitats, are less manageable and will have lesspredictable effects on the NWT’s biodiversity:The Team found that more information is needed in view of increasingdemands, and that capacity building is essential, in addition to moreefficient ways to share information, including traditional ecologicalknowledge (TEK).Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic SpeciesP Ecosystem-based Approach• Do we ensure that harvest of all wild species is sustainable while minimizing adverse impacts of harvesting on non-targetspecies?• Are we modifying, developing or implementing policies, plans and management programs to ensure that they supportthe sustainable use of biological resources, with consideration at the landscape/waterscape-level for water, air and otheressential resources and the long-term integrity of supporting ecosystems?• Are we enhancing our monitoring programs on the harvested species, and on the ecosystems supporting them, that arecurrently under the most stress?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.8:Practice applied partially but progressing at moderatepace.Not all harvested species have management plans,but some general monitoring is done – there is aneed to increase communication about what isknown about these species.Harvest rates are not well known for some species insome regions (also see Best Information Approach).Sustainability indices are not communicated todecision-makers and the public; data and informationare dispersed within and amongst wildlifemanagement organizations.4.1 “Continue”Continue to manage the harvest of species in asustainable manner, and include considerations fornon-target species, natural variations in populations andecosystem changes in management plans.4.2 “Enhance”Increase our monitoring of harvest rates to include alltypes of harvesters and fishers in all regions of the NWT.4.3 “New”Produce a State of Environment or biodiversity indicatorreport; include indices on sustainable use of wild speciesand link with climate change indices and other indices,as appropriate, and link to national and internationalefforts, as appropriate.• Production of fact sheetsor other tools thatdemonstrate sustainabilityof harvest of all speciesor groups of speciesharvested in the NWT.• Published harvest rateestimates for all harvestertypes for all regions.• Production of a Stateof Environment orbiodiversity indicatorreport that includessustainability indices forharvested species andtheir habitats in the NWT.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SUSTAINABLE USE OF 39TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES

Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic Species (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Are Indigenous communities developing approaches to promote and ensure the sustainable use of biological resources ina way that reflects their values, social networks, traditional economies and cultures?• Do we provide programs and information to assist users in understanding the impacts and implications of their decisionsand to promote the sustainable use of biological resources and ecosystems?• Are we improving the effectiveness of public participation in developing policies (including programs and plans) for theuse of biological resources using a variety of measures, such as integrated decision-making processes and conflictresolution mechanisms?• Are we improving mechanisms to use TEK with the involvement of the holders of such knowledge, and encouraging theequitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices?• Are we providing opportunities for participation of Indigenous communities in implementing actions on sustainable usethrough a variety of mechanisms, such as resource management agreements, management boards and other means?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.8:Practice applied partially and is progressing in aninnovative fashion.Co-management systems are not establishedeverywhere in the NWT. Where co-managementboards exist social involvement is high, but not allboards are at full capacity and there are communitycapacity issues.There are many boards is the NWT. The NWT BoardForum exisits as a formal mechanism to providebetter communication amongst many of them, butrenewable resource boards are not included.The links between TEK and the implementationof access and equitable sharing of benefits frombiological resources are complex and not wellunderstood yet in Canada.There are remaining and sometimes increasingbarriers to community involvement and multi-agencycost sharing for monitoring and research on species.These barriers include strict insurance and prohibitiveliability issues, lack of training opportunities, costsharing policies, and low community capacity toparticipate. The NWT needs more dialogue toeliminate barriers.4.4 “Continue”Work towards completing land claim agreementsas the most effective way to enhance capacity andto establish integrated decision-making processesthroughout the NWT.4.5 “Continue”Continue to participate in and increase theeffectiveness of the co-management system forwildlife management in the NWT, and work towardsthe implementation of such systems in all regions ofthe NWT.4.6 “Enhance”Find and participate in innovative ways to enhancecommunication and networking amongst boards tofacilitate resolution of complex NWT-wide wildlifemanagement challenges. Investigate whether anannual forum on wildlife would help as a startingpoint.4.7 “Enhance”Participate in innovative ways to enhancecommunication and networking amongst boards tofacilitate resolution of complex NWT-wide wildlifemanagement challenges; investigate participation inannual NWT Board Forum as appropriate.4.8 “New”Identify barriers to community involvement, volunteerresearchers and monitors, and then work towardseliminating barriers. Investigate drafting a northernmulti-agency Volunteer and Community ParticipationStrategy.4.9 “New”Investigate how access and benefit sharing applies tothe NWT context, using as a basis for discussion theDraft Scoping Paper and Engagement Strategy beingdeveloped by all jurisdictions in Canada.• Settled land claims in allregions of the NWT.• All wildlife comanagementboards areat full capacity in terms ofpersonnel and expertise,as they feel appropriate.• Formal multi-boardcommunication processin place; link with NWTBoard Forum or a forumon species at risk, asappropriate.• Standard protocols anddata-sharing agreementson harvested species inplace.• Volunteer and CommunityParticipation Strategycompleted.• Report on access andbenefit sharing ofbiological resources andits application to the NWTcontext.Drying meat © PAS40 SUSTAINABLE USE OFNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWOTERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES

Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic Species (cont.)˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Are we implementing mechanisms, including management plans and agreements, to conserve and use in a sustainablemanner transboundary native wildlife populations, species, habitats and ecosystems in cooperation with otherjurisdictions and organizations?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.5:Practice applied partially and is progressing in aninnovative fashion.The NWT needs to list all harvested transboundarypopulations, species, herds or groups of species andprovide information on how sustainable harvestis monitored and achieved, for example throughagreements or management decisions of a board.4.10 “Continue”Continue to manage the harvest of transboundaryspecies in a sustainable manner and continue todevelop international agreements or managementboards, as appropriate.4.11 “Continue”Continue to participate in efforts to monitorharvested wildlife in the circumpolar world, through,for example, continued participation in the ArcticCouncil and its programs.• All harvestedtransboundarypopulations, species, herdsor groups of species havea mechanism to conserveand ensure sustainableuse that includes otheraffected jurisdictions andtheir organizations.• Full participation inArctic Council monitoringprograms and others, asappropriate.i Best Information Approach• Are we improving methods and technologies and increasing efforts to inventory, research, monitor and share informationthat supports the sustainable use of biological resources and eliminates or minimizes adverse impacts on biodiversityresulting from resource use?• Are we developing and implementing education and training programs for people involved in the management,development and use of biological resources, to ensure that they have access to the best available information, methodsand technologies?• Are we working towards ensuring that data and information on sustainable use of biological resources generated bypublicly-funded studies are made available to potential users?• Are we developing and implementing monitoring programs to evaluate the success or failure of sustainable use policiesand programs and better integrate the monitoring of biological and non-biological parameters?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.75:Practice applied partially and is progressing slowly.Harvest rates are not well monitored for most speciesin most regions.Population size and natural mortality information forsome harvested species continues to be so imprecisethat it prevents us from making reasonable long-termestimates of sustainable harvest.Sustainability could be demonstrated, for example,by using a set of criteria that would include harvestlevels, population information, management options,considerations for non-target species, naturalvariations in populations and ecosystem changes.4.12 “Enhance”Enhance our efforts to coordinate research andincrease our efforts to monitor harvest on allharvested species in the NWT.4.13 “New”Develop and improve mechanisms to communicatesustainability indices on harvested species to thepublic and decision-makers.4.14 “Continue”Continue to work on multi-agency databaseinitiatives as a way to share data on harvested speciesand their habitats in the NWT, building on initiativessuch as the Wildlife Information Management Systemand other information management systems underdevelopment in the NWT, as appropriate. Link toother databases outside NWT.• List all harvested speciesor groups of species and,using fact sheets or othermethods, demonstratehow sustainability isachieved and maintained.• Have all harvest levelinformation easilyaccessible by wildlifemanagers, decisionmakersand the public inthe NWT.• Have a WildlifeInformation ManagementSystem in place and haveactive participation innational database systemson renewable resources.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS SUSTAINABLE USE OF 41TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES

Sustainable Use of Terrestrial and Aquatic Species (cont.)G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Are we developing and using appropriate social/economic policies and incentives as a means of promoting the sustainableuse of biological resources?• Are we examining our legislative tools and improving, if necessary, the legislative framework to better support thesustainable use of biological resources?• Are we modifying or eliminating elements in our policies and programs that create unintentional adverse impacts on wildflora and fauna?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3:Practice applied partially and is progressing.Most legislation related to renewable resources inthe NWT has been slated for a review to increaseeffectiveness, to meet new threats and to keepup-to-date on the changing context of wildlifemanagement in the North.4.15 “Continue”Review and continue to improve all renewableresource legislation and regulations in the NWT, bothfederal and territorial.4.16 “New”Develop evaluation criteria for legislation and policyinitiatives related to biodiversity, including wildlife.• Renewed Wildlife Act,fisheries regulations andforest legislation andcompleted new NWTspecies at risk legislation.• Completed evaluationcriteria for legislationand policies related tobiodiversity.Woodland Caribou © J. Nagy/ENR42 SUSTAINABLE USE OFNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWOTERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES

5. Climate ChangeOld days – Giant Mine smoke stack © T. MacintoshObjectiveControl greenhouse gas emissions, and conduct research and implement monitoringon impacts of climate change on biological resources and ecosystems in the NorthwestTerritories.PEcosystemîSocial/CulturalTeam’s OverviewClimate change has come to the forefront as a concern to northernbiodiversity. This occurred more quickly than expected.G˛There are many disjointed climate change programs in the NWT that needconsolidation to move forward. We need to work more cooperatively ona territorial and national climate change agenda, which would includeworking with the federal government to control greenhouse gas emissions(GHG).LegislationiCooperationContinuing research and implementation of carbon sequestration programsfor forests, wetlands and grasslands is essential, as are examining climatechange impact on biological resources and implementing strategies toreduce impacts.InformationClimate ChangeP Ecosystem-based Approach• Are we modifying, to include consideration for climate change, any relevant management plans or programs to ensurethat they will support the sustainable use of biological resources and the long-term integrity of supporting ecosystems,taking into consideration the ecosystem level changes in snow, soil, air and other essential resources?• Are we applying multidisciplinary research to investigate relationships between atmospheric changes and changes inbiodiversity?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.5:Practice applied partially but progressing relativelyfast.Monitoring is occurring and baseline data is beingcollected.5.1 “Enhance”Encourage cooperation and promote linkagesbetween groups; design and promote emissionreduction programs in each organization in the NWT.5.2 “Enhance”Increase coordination of ecosystem monitoring andresearch through a NWT Climate Change Agenda toplan for impacts and adaptations, as appropriate.• Emission reductionprograms in all majororganizations in the NWT,including establishedgovernment “housein-order”goals withrespect to greenhouse gasemissions.• Completed NWT ClimateChange Agenda.Aerial view of Yellowknife © ENRGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS CLIMATE CHANGE 43

Climate Change (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Are we using a variety of planning and approval mechanisms that provide for meaningful public and stakeholderparticipation to prevent or reduce negative impacts on biodiversity (including climate change) that may arise from humansettlement activities?• Do we provide or assist with programs (in schools and in general) and information to assist users, including the public,understand the impacts and implications of their decisions and to promote the sustainable use of biological resources andecosystems?• Are we challenging Canadians to contribute towards achieving the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and totake action, allowing volunteers to participate in monitoring programs, where appropriate and practical?• Are we establishing opportunities for Indigenous communities to share their knowledge on the effects of climate changeon northern biodiversity with non-Indigenous communities?• Are we enhancing opportunities for professional development for those involved in teaching about climate change?• Within our jurisdiction, have we developed mechanisms to provide opportunities for meaningful participation of regionaland urban governments, local and Indigenous communities, interested individuals and groups, business interests and thescientific community in implementing actions related to climate change?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.9:Practice applied partially and is progressing.The NWT is promoting the understanding of climatechange.Many organizations are providing opportunities toexchange information and participate in actionsrelated to climate change and to promote ways toreduce emissions. Coordination and collaboration isslowly building.In an informal way, there are professionaldevelopment opportunities for teachers.5.3 “Enhance”Enhance and assist in coordination of climate changerelated programs, coordination and promotionof ways to reduce emissions and in professionaldevelopment programs related to climate change.5.4 “Enhance”Provide translation of concepts into Aboriginallanguages to better include Aboriginal communitiesand provide better dialogue on climate change andreduction of emissions.• Re-established ClimateChange Centre, or asimilar centre for thepromotion of reduction ofgreenhouse gas emissions.• Increased number ofprofessional educators,including translators,trained on effects ofclimate change in theNorth.˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Have we increased coordination among national programs to determine potential impacts on biodiversity from past, presentand future atmospheric changes?• Are we working through appropriate national and international organizations to improve dialogue and communication andto encourage research on the linkages among social issues, consumption and production of resources and ecological carryingcapacity in order to formulate policies about climate change?• Are we strengthening international planning efforts and other processes to eliminate or reduce adverse impacts on biodiversityand the sustainable use of resources, resulting in activities from other countries, with special consideration placed on airbornepollutants including CO 2and other greenhouse gasses?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2.2:Practice applied partially and is progressing veryslowly.The NWT could be at the forefront of newtechnologies to reduce emissions and to studyadaptations to climate change.The NWT has started community monitoringprograms related to climate change.The NWT had no representative on the Pan-ArcticCommittee on Climate Change. A concentratedeffort by all parties (territorial and federalgovernments, Aboriginal groups and NGOs) isnecessary to establish a NWT climate change agenda.5.5 “Enhance”Increase studies on impacts and adaptations toclimate change, through an organization like CAIRNNorth, if appropriate. Continue to promote anorthern perspective in research funding agencies,including a coordinated NWT climate change agendaas appropriate.5.6 “New”Promote research on and develop new northerntechnologies related to reducing emissions andadapting to the effects of climate change.• Completed NWT ClimateChange Agenda.• Completed pilot projecton new northerntechnologies related toreducing emissions andadapting to the effects ofclimate change.44 CLIMATE CHANGENORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Climate Change (cont.)i Best Information Approach• Are we improving methods and technologies and increasing efforts to research, monitor and share information thateliminates or minimizes adverse impacts on climate resulting from resource use?• Are we maintaining and/or enhancing bioclimatic monitoring to track the effects of atmospheric changes on ecosystems,species and genetic diversity?• Are we developing early warning indicators and working towards incorporating cumulative environmental effects intorelevant national and international agreements?• Are we developing and implementing monitoring programs and participating in the development and maintenance ofappropriate international databases on climate change and its effects on biodiversity?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 3.4:Practice applied partially and is progressing in asomewhat innovative fashion.The NWT is definitely starting to developmethodologies and technologies to monitor climatechange. These programs are tied into nationalprograms. Studies are paralleling each other; theyshould be complementing each other.5.7 “New”Establish a composite early warning indicator systemon the effects of changing climates on ecosystemsto identify the primary response of ecosystems andtheir supported biodiversity to climate change; linkthis system to a State of Environment or biodiversityindicator report and other indices, as appropriate; linkto national and international efforts, as appropriate.5.8 “New”Coordinate research and implement strategies tomitigate the impacts on biological resources as partof a NWT Climate Change Agenda, as appropriate.• Development ofcomposite early warningindicators on climatechange.• Completed NWT ClimateChange Agenda.G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Are we implementing measures to eliminate or reduce human-caused atmospheric changes that adversely affect biodiversity?• Have we participated in international efforts to coordinate and enhance activities stemming from international agreementson climate change (i.e. Kyoto Accord)?• Are we promoting the acceptance of the requirements of the convention within the urban development sector throughthe voluntary establishment of codes of environmental management (atmospheric standards) and the provision of relevantbiodiversity educational material?• Are we using a variety of measures, such as integrated decision-making and conflict resolution, to improve the effectivenessof community participation, including corporate communities (stakeholders), in developing policies for the use of biologicalresources?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessIncreasing landscape change, slumping © D. DowningOverall Rank = 2.9:Practice applied partially and is progressing.Need continued emphasis to improve our incentiveson controlling greenhouse gas emissions.Climate change is not addressed fully yet in theenvironmental assessment process. We need toimprove our environmental controls and standards toadapt to climate change.5.9 “New”Consider increasing support and incentives leading tocorporate and individual reduction in gas emissions,and leading to development and application of newtechnologies leading to reduction of emissions.5.10 “Enhance”Within organizations and industry in the NWT,promote and participate in emission reductionchallenges.5.11 “Continue”Monitor success of controlling anthropogenicgreenhouse gas emissions by comparing with today’slevels.5.12 “Enhance”Review and further address the effects of climatechange in the environmental impact assessmentprocess.• Updated GreenhouseGas Strategy, including acomprehensive review ofincentives.• Established “house-inorder”goals with respectto greenhouse gasemissions.• Report on NWT’sgreenhouse gas emissions,with a periodic review.• Best practice guidelinesfor including climatechange in environmentalimpact assessment processare in place.GAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS CLIMATE CHANGE 45

6. Invasive Alien SpeciesSome Dandelions are introduced and spreading © S. Carrière/ENRObjectiveInvestigate how invasive alien species are a threat to native ecosystems and species in theNorthwest Territories, and address that threat in a manner appropriate to its severity.PEcosystemîSocial/CulturalTeam’s OverviewNWT lags behind other jurisdictions in North America in preventing theintroduction of, controlling or eradicating invasive alien species that wouldthreaten native ecosystems, habitats or species.GLegislationiInformation˛CooperationThe Team found that although some industries are taking an active role incontrolling the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in the NWT,there is a general lack of knowledge and research on these species in theNWT. We may be complacent in our view of the threats of invasive alienspecies to our ecosystems; we may take for granted that our northern climatewill prevent most species from establishing themselves here. Relevant lessonscan be learned from jurisdictions just south of us, and most importantly fromother regions in the circumpolar world (e.g. Siberia, Scandinavia).Awareness is increasing, but incentives to control and prevent introductionare lacking. There are missed opportunities to act early and reduce futureneeds for large and expensive eradication and control programs.Invasive Alien SpeciesP Ecosystem-based Approach• Do we take all necessary steps to prevent the introduction of harmful alien species and to eliminate or reduce their adverse effectsto acceptable levels?• Are we determining priorities for allocating resources for the control of harmful alien species based on their impact on nativebiodiversity and economic resources, and implementing effective control or, where possible, eradication measures?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank =1.3:Practice mostly not applied and mostly not progressing.Some industries are working to eliminate the use ofalien species (mostly plants) during restoration work, butthe practice is rare and progress is very slow. Economicdisincentives are regarded as large. The risk of use andpropagation of alien species in the NWT is not wellunderstood.6.1 “New”Perform, as a first step, a risk analysis to evaluate thepotential threats of alien species to NWT ecosystems.• Risk analysis performed.46 INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIESNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Invasive Alien Species (cont.)î Social Involvement Approach and Cultural Best Practices• Are we enhancing public education and awareness of the impacts of harmful alien species and the steps that can be takento prevent their introduction?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2:Practice applied partially and is not progressing.There is awareness of this threat in communities, butwe do not communicate how it can be alleviated,probably because we do not know if the threat isserious.6.2 “New”Evaluate the potential threats of invasive alienspecies to NWT ecosystems. Include surveys andquestionnaires to industry or groups that have thegreatest capacity to contribute to potential solutions(landscaping industry, transportation, mining, oil/gas,seismic project companies, etc.).• Risk analysis performed,with possible strategies tocontrol threat.˛ Cooperation and Collaborative Approach• Are we working to identify and eliminate common sources of unintentional introductions?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 2:Practice applied partially and is not progressing.Visiting experts perform monitoring of exotic plantsand insects. Communication of their findings tonorthern decision-makers can be improved andfacilitated.6.3 “New”Work with other jurisdictions to identify andeliminate the common sources of introduction ofinvasive species.• Risk analysis performed,with possible strategies tocooperate with adjacentjurisdictions to controlthreat.i Best Information Approach• Are we developing and implementing effective means to identify and monitor exotic species?• Are we researching methods and approaches that improve our abilities to assess whether or not exotic organisms will havean adverse impact on biodiversity?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 1.5:Practice mostly not applied and mostly notprogressing.Monitoring of this is done haphazardly, mostly due tolack of northern expertise.6.4 “New”Cooperate and facilitate the collection of informationon alien species in partnership with outside agencieswith appropriate expertise.6.5 “New”Investigate how appropriate expertise (botanic andentomological) and species identification materialcould be integrated and shared with northernorganizations.• Established databaseon alien species, withinformation on sitelocations and level ofinvasiveness.• Taxonomic expertise andidentification material onexotic species exist in theNWT.Alien species, House Sparrow © G. CourtGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES 47

Invasive Alien Species (cont.)G Fair Legislation and Incentives Approach• Are we ensuring that there is adequate legislation and enforcement to control introductions or escapes of harmful alienspecies, and are we improving preventative mechanisms, such as screening standards and risk assessment procedures?Analysis Recommendations Measures of SuccessOverall Rank = 1:Practice not applied and not progressing.Legislation relates to live vertebrates and plants(seeds), but uses the “black list” approach to protectresource industries. These lists are little used, notrelevant or not applied in the North. New policies onaquatic species require that proponents demonstratea lack of risk before the introduction of a new speciesfor any purposes, including commercial.6.6 “New”Evaluate the potential threats of alien species to NWTecosystems and investigate effective legislative toolsto help control the introduction, eradication andmanagement of alien invasive species.• Risk analysis performedwith legislative toolsevaluated.Amber-marked birch leaf miner © Forest Management/ENR48 INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIESNORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

Next Steps –NWT Biodiversity Action PlanThe implementation of each recommendation is the responsibility of organizationsworking on biodiversity in the NWT. Each organization may choose to work on one ormore initiatives, according its own priorities and capacity. Since the publication of thefirst report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan that listed current actions on biodiversityin the NWT, some agencies and groups have already undertaken new initiatives that willimplement some recommendations. These new actions are listed in the NWT BiodiversityAction matrix at 8 www.nwtwildife.com.Biodiversity Action Planning¸ 2002¸ Report 12004List of ActionsOverall PortraitCreationof Team20 yearsPeriodic Review¸ Report 22006NWT Gap/OverlapAnalysis andRecommendations10 yearsState of theEnvironmentReportingImplementation Actionsby OrganizationsGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 49

The present report of the NWT Biodiversity Action Plan is part of a planning processdescribed in a guide 2 developed to help small nations implement the United NationsConvention on Biological Diversity.The next proposed step is to evaluate how the implementation of NWT actions related tobiodiversity results in real changes “on-the-land” and leads to conservation of biodiversityand sustainable development in the NWT. The results of this type of evaluation usuallytakes the form of a “State of the Environment” report or “Status and Trends Indicators”report.An evaluation would summarize, build on and complement indicator reporting already inplace or being developed for some ecosystems in the NWT:• Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management in Canada – First reportin 2000, with sections relevant to NWT forests. Published by the Canadian Council ofForest Ministers.• Mackenzie Basin State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report – First report in 2003, withreviews every five years. Published by the Mackenzie River Basin Board.• “State of the Environment” reporting by the Government of the Northwest Territories.Summaries will be published for the first time in 2007, with annual updates. 3• A framework for reporting on the Ecological Integrity of Canada’s National Parksusing indicators is being developed by Parks Canada and will provide information onecosystems in National Parks, including National Parks in the NWT.The results of these evaluations will guide organizations in the implementation ofbiodiversity actions and will inform future teamwork on biodiversity planning.2Modified from Prescott et al. 2000. Guide to developing a biodiversity strategy from a sustainable developmentperspective. UNDP, UNEP.3Environment and Natural Resources. 2005. Framework for Action 2005-2008. Government of the Northwest Territories,Yellowknife, NT.Wood Frog, adapted to extreme environment © G. Calef/ENR50NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

NWT Biodiversity Team Members –ContactsThe NWT Biodiversity Team members performed the gap/overlap analysis. Observingorganizations and individuals were provided opportunities to review drafts and providedgeneral comments on process and content.Team FacilitatorsSuzanne CarrièreEcosystem Management BiologistWildlife DivisionDepartment of Environmentand Natural Resourcessuzanne_carriere@gov.nt.ca8 www.nwtwildlife.comLynda YongeWildlife Management Support Services,ManagerWildlife DivisionDepartment of Environmentand Natural Resourceslynda_yonge@gov.nt.caAurora Collegeand AuroraResearch Institute (observer)Andrew ApplejohnScience Advisor, GNWTAurora Research Instituteandrew_applejohn@gov.nt.ca8 www.nwtresearch.comBHP BillitonEKATI Diamond MineHelen ButlerEKATI Diamond MineBHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.helen.butler@bhpbilliton.comwww.ekati.bhpbilliton.comCanadian Parksand Wilderness SocietyJennifer MorinConservation CoordinatorCanadian Parks and Wilderness Societycpawsnwt_cc@theedge.ca8 www.cpaws.orgCanadian Wildlife Service,Environment CanadaPaul LatourHabitat Biologist, Western ArcticCanadian Wildlife ServiceEnvironment Canadapaul.latour@ec.gc.ca8 www.cws.ec.gc.caDene Nation (observer)Lorne NapierDene Nationlnapier@denenation.com8 www.denenation.comDepartment ofFisheries and OceansLois HarwoodBiologistDepartment of Fisheries and Oceansharwoodl@dfo-mpo.gc.ca8 www.dfo-mpo.gc.caDepartment ofTransportation,GNWT (observer)Michael BrownManager, Environmental AffairsDepartment of Transportationmichael_brown@gov.nt.ca8 www.gov.nt.ca/transportationGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 51

Ducks Unlimited CanadaAlicia KorpachBiologist/GIS SpecialistDucks Unlimited Canadaa_korpach@ducks.ca8 www.borealforest.caEnvironmentand Natural ResourcesTom LakustaManager, Forest ResourcesForest ResourcesDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourcestom_lakusta@gov.nt.caLisa SmithInventory ForesterForest ResourcesDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourceslisa_smith@gov.nt.caJane McMullenSenior Policy AnalystPolicy, Legislation and CommunicationsDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourcesjane_mcmullen@ogv.nt.caTracy HillisClimate Change BiologistWildlife DivisionDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourcestracy_hillis@gov.nt.ca8 www.nwtwildlife.comJim SparlingEnergy Programs CoordinatorEnvironmental ProtectionDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourcesjim_sparling@gov.nt.caGwich’in RenewableResource BoardJennifer Walker-LarsenEnvironmental BiologistGwich’in Renewable Resource Boardenviro.biologist@grrb.nt.ca8 www.grrb.nt.caJari Heikkila (observer)Executive DirectorGwich’in Renewable Resource Boardjari.heikkila@grrb.nt.ca8 www.grrb.nt.caIndian and NorthernAffairs CanadaArthur BoutilierMackenzie Valley Land Use Planning,CoordinatorIndian and Northern Affairs Canadaboutiliera@inac.gc.ca8 www.ainc-inac.gc.caGreg YeomanResource Management AdvisorIndian and Northern Affairs Canadayeomang@inac.gc.ca8 www.ainc-inac.gc.caParks CanadaIan McDonaldConservation BiologistParks Canada, Western Arctic Field Unitian.mcdonald@pc.gc.ca8 www.pc.gc.caEd McLeanEcosystem ScientistParks Canada, Western Arctic Field United.mclean@pc.gc.ca8 www.pc.gc.caDoug TateBiologist, Nahanni National ParkParks Canada, NWT Southwest Field Unitdoug.tate@pc.gc.ca8 www.pc.gc.ca52NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN – REPORT TWO

NWT ProtectedAreas StrategyJoanna WilsonProtected Areas BiologistProtected Areas ImplementationWildlife DivisionDepartment of Environment andNatural Resourcesjoanna_wilson@gov.nt.caShelly JohnsonProtected Areas Strategy AdvisorIndian and Northern Affairsjohnsons@inac.gc.ca8 www.gov.nt.ca/rwed/pasKris JohnsonActing Protected Areas Strategy AdvisorIndian and Northern Affairsjohnsonkr@inac.gc.caSahtu RenewableResources BoardJody SnortlandExecutive DirectorSahtu Renewable Resources Boarddirector@srrb.nt.ca8 www.srrb.nt.caWildlife ManagementAdvisory Council (NWT)Ray CaseBio-technical Advisor (GNWT)Wildlife Management AdvisoryCouncil (NWT)ray_case@gov.nt.caWorld Wildlife Fund CanadaFreya NalesGIS Analyst, NT OfficeWorld Wildlife Fund Canadafnales@wwfcanada.org8 www.wwf.caPeter J. Ewins (observer)Director, Arctic ConservationWorld Wildlife Fund Canadapewins@wwfcanada.org8 www.wwf.caThe NWT Biodiversity Team is continuing to work on biodiversity actions acrossthe NWT.We welcome your input.8 www.nwtwildlife.com/biodiversity/biodiversity_action_plan.htmlGAP AND OVERLAP ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS 53

© NWT Biodiversity Team