Feedback Sought on Draft Tagish River Habitat Protection Area Management Plan

Friday, 25 September 2020 12:02

This draft recommended management plan aims to protect the Tagish River for future generations and to provide a path forward for sustainable use of this culturally and ecologically important area.

The steering committee of the Tagish River Habitat Protection Area, which includes representatives from the Government of Yukon, is inviting users if the area to comment on the draft recommended management plan. This area is important to Carcross/Tagish First Nation people, local residents, recreational users and visitors of the Tagish River.

This draft recommended management plan aims to protect the Tagish River for future generations and to provide a path forward for sustainable use of this culturally and ecologically important area.

Finalizing the Tagish River Habitat Protection Area recommended management plan will meet an important milestone in implementation of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation Final Agreement, and balance important ecological conservation, valued recreational use, and protection of cultural vales.

Public meetings will be held in October 2020.

Quotes

It is exciting to see this management plan moving towards completion. I encourage all users of the Tagish River area to come to the public meetings to learn about the recommended management plan and provide feedback on how to protect this culturally and ecologically significant area. Minister of Environment Pauline Frost

Carcross/Tagish First Nation is encouraged that through this recommended management plan people will be able to re-establish their relationship and connection to the land and water that makes up the Tagish River Habitat Protection Area. Through our treaty we identified this area due to the cultural and ecological significance it has to Tagish and Tlingit people. We encourage people to spend time enjoying this area while respecting the Indigenous rights of the Carcross/Tagish people. We look forward to completing this important initiative. Haa Shaa du Hen, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Lynda Dickson

The Tagish River was identified under Chapter 10, Schedule C of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation Final Agreement due to the cultural and ecological significance of the area.

The Tagish River Habitat Protection Area Steering Committee includes representatives from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada.

The Steering Committee invited representatives from the Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council and Tagish Local Advisory Council to join in the planning process and has welcomed input since the start of this initiative.

The Habitat Protection Area (HPA) covers approximately five square kilometres between Marsh Lake and Tagish Lake.

The Tagish River is one of the most important areas in Yukon for migrating waterfowl, especially Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, as it is one of only a few areas in Southern Yukon with open water in the spring.

Habitat Protection Areas are areas established under the Yukon Wildlife Act to conserve wildlife and habitat to maintain Yukon’s important natural landscapes and cultural features.

In developing a draft of the plan, the steering committee met with Carcross/Tagish First Nation Elders, held eight community events, sent a questionnaire to residents and conducted interviews with citizens.

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