Porcupine Caribou Management Plan

	Section Navigation

	The Plan
	The Caribou
	Actions: Caribou
	Actions: People
	Worksheets
	Acronyms

Porcupine Caribou Management Plan: 1996/1997 - 1999/2000
Actions: People

Co-Management

Status 1995/96:

In Canada PCH Management has been guided by the PCMA since 1986. Membership on the Board includes representatives from Gwich'in, Northern Tutchone, Han and Inuvialuit users plus representatives from the Yukon, NWT and federal governments.
The Inuvialuit Final Agreement was signed in 1984, followed by the Gwich'in Final Agreement in 1992 and the Council for Yukon Indians Final Agreement in 1995, completing land claim settlements for the PCH range. Each agreement establishes local advisory councils on wildlife issues and also has the capacity to legislate wildlife regulations for its beneficiaries.
Following adoption of the International Guidelines for the conservation of the PCH by the IPCB in 1993, the PCMB agreed to retain the Canadian management plan and renew it every 4 years.
Enforcement practices related to PCH hunting have improved over the past few years and traditional knowledge is more widely used in management considerations.

Concerns:

Canadian and International PCH management and conservation agreements and organizations must not be dissolved.
Coordination of PCH management among First Nation and other governments is becoming very complicated.
The UBC study on community involvement in PCH management showed areas that need improvement.
It's still hard to get and use traditional knowledge in PCH management.
People have a tough time understanding scientific studies and recommendations.
Communities need to be better advised about caribou issues and more involved in management.

Solutions:

1. Maintain support of Canadian and International agreements and management plans (Actions)

2. Make sure First Nation and other governments plus their advisory groups work together (Actions)

3. Improve PCH co-management based on UBC study (Actions)

4. Look for and use traditional knowledge in PCH management (Actions)

5. Find ways to explain scientific studies and recommendations to people (Actions)

6. Tell people about PCH management and get their opinions and involvement (Actions)

Targets:

Both the PCMB and IPCB will be operating according to their management plans and guidelines.
Local wildlife advisory groups established through land claims will be fully involved in PCH management.
There will be a greater level of understanding and increased community involvement in PCH management.
Traditional knowledge will play a key role in decision making.

Culture & Education

Status 1995/96:

Except for Unit 1 of the teachers' manual, the 4 part PCH School curriculum is available in every elementary and junior high school in the Yukon, and Mackenzie Delta. The program is also used elsewhere in western Canada and northeastern Alaska.
The Johnny Charlie Scholarship is available at Yukon College each year. Past recipients of the scholarship remain involved in wildlife work or further wildlife related education.
There is no special PCH related program for high schools.
Attempts by the Board to support 'caribou camps' for young people in communities were generally unsuccessful.
The Board supported two community-based video projects on traditional knowledge of the PCH.
Governments reported no incidents of antler sales from the PCH.
Renewable Resources programs are offered by Yukon College (Whitehorse), and Thebacha College (Ft. Smith).

Concerns:

Northerners need more scientific and traditional awareness of PCH management to fully participate in co-management.
The Johnny Charlie Scholarship does not have secure funding for the Yukon.
The possibility for a computer program on the PCH for high school students has not been dealt with.
There is not enough on-the-land education for elementary students in most user communities.
There could be more First Nation employees in territorial, federal and First Nation Renewable Resources departments.
There is no handy reference for the public and communities on the PCH.
Early warning of any interest in antler sales is needed to stop such activities.
Careless hunting practices show lack of respect for caribou.

Solutions:

1. Get PCH information into schools (Actions)

2. Get permanent support for Johnny Charlie Scholarship (Actions)

3. Get a PCH program into high schools (Actions)

4. Support better on-the-land training for school kids (Actions)

5. Encourage First Nation employment in wildlife jobs (Actions)

6. Make a reference book of PCH information (Actions)

7. Keep on the look-out for antler sales (Actions)

8. Encourage respect for caribou at all times (Actions)

Targets:

There will be information about the PCH available at every level of the education system.
The Johnny Charlie Scholarship will have permanent status with Yukon College and it will be introduced to Aurora College as well.
The PCMB will be involved in supporting on-the-land training for elementary students in the user communities.
There will not be any antler sales from the PCH.
People will be proud of the way caribou are treated by hunters and others who come into contact with them.

Tourism

Status 1995/96:

Ranges of the PCH are included in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Ivvavik National Park, Vuntut National Park, Old Crow Special Management Area and Fishing Branch Special Management Area. The Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation is negotiating Tombstone Park as part of their land claim settlement.
Firth River tours are almost fully booked each season.
A special tourist brochure was produced by PCMB/YTG in 1995.
PCH posters are provided by PCMB to government tourism outlets and some businesses.
Aircraft harassment posters and stickers are provided by PCMB to airlines and tourism businesses.
Guide training programs are available in the Yukon and NWT.
Some outfitters in the Yukon operate under a quota system for caribou.

Concerns:

New parks and special management areas must consider the PCH in their management plans.
Tourists should be able to learn about PCH and its management.
Caribou are harassed by picture-taking tourists.

Solutions:

1. Participate in management planning for parks and special management areas on PCH range (Actions)

2. Provide PCH information to tourism outlets (Actions)

3. Make sure people are aware about the dangers to PCH of aircraft harassment (Actions)

Targets:

Plans for new parks or other wildlife management areas will include PCH conservation.
Tourists will be able to get an interesting variety of information about the PCH.
Anybody flying a plane or helicopter on the PCH range will know that it is harmful and illegal to buzz caribou.

Industry

Status 1995/96:

United States Congress is still debating whether to protect the calving grounds of the PCH or open the '1002' lands to development.
The Withdrawal Order covering the Yukon north of the Porcupine River is still in effect but could be removed now that the Yukon Land Claims has been signed.
A proposal to log driftwood on the Beaufort Sea coast in the summer range of the PCH was approved by the Inuvialuit Environmental Impact Review Board in 1995.
A proposal to construct a gas pipeline from Inuvik to Alaska has not been advanced in the past couple of years.

Concerns:

Oil development on the '1002' lands would cause a serious decline of the PCH.
Removing the Withdrawal Order could lead to disturbance of PCH insect relief areas in the Richardson Mountains.
The PCMB needs early notification about every development proposal for the PCH range. All development proposals for the PCH range must consider the needs of the herd.
Industry should be aware of the importance of the PCH and its ranges.
There are no standards for reviewing development proposals on the PCH winter range.

Solutions:

1. Get permanent protection for the '1002' lands (See Range Use Solutions 3)

2. Make sure insect relief areas get protection when Withdrawal Order lifted (see Range Use Solutions 4)

3. Make sure PCMB is notified about any development proposals for PCH range (Actions)

4. Review all development proposals that involve the PCH and provide information to screening committees (Actions)

5. Provide PCH information to industry (Actions)

6. Develop policies for development on PCH winter range (Actions)

Targets:

We will be actively working on a way to permanently protect the '1002' lands.
If the Withdrawal Order is lifted, the Richardson Mountains insect relief areas will be adequately protected.
The PCMB will be fully involved in reviews of any development proposed for the PCH range.
Industry will be given information as soon as possible so that the PCH will be fully considered in the early stages of planning and development.