To the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board
Re: Habitat Protection

Current Status:

Although many areas of importance to wildlife are known to Mayo residents, few of these have been fully identified and, apart from one Special Management Area cited in the NND Final Agreement, only two voluntary no-hunting areas to protect moose calving have been established by community consent.

Concern:

In preliminary surveys of Mayo residents about habitat protection, some reluctance was noted due to the belief that once such an area became 'protected', the person would not be allowed to go there anymore. Thus, without knowing the complete array of options for habitat protection, the MDRRC is limited in what it can tell people and what it can do about protecting areas.

RECOMMENDATION to YFWMB:

The Council recommends, that, to facilitate wildlife habitat protection in Yukon, the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board investigate and report on all means of achieving habitat protection for the use of Renewable Resources Councils in designating such areas in their Traditional Territories.