Artwork: Yukon Graphic Recording

INTENT STATEMENT

The vision is for the ongoing presence and health of the Fortymile caribou herd on the landscape. The management intent is to protect habitat needs and migration routes, while allowing limited, specific development.

Future management of this area should continue to support the ongoing health and population of the Fortymile caribou herd. As such, quartz exploration and development are not supported in this LMU under current regulatory and technological limitations and best practices. This is intended to ensure that Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in harvest rights and stewardship responsibilities are not compromised.

Caribou populations across North America are experiencing widespread and sustained declines, underscoring the need for immediate and targeted conservation measures. Current mining legislation and practices pose a high risk of significant negative impacts on caribou, particularly on ridgetops – the primary migratory corridors that often coincide with areas of high quartz prospectivity. The Fortymile herd faces severe cumulative pressures from existing and proposed development, with barriers to movement and habitat loss identified as major threats.

Maintaining migration pathways and minimizing habitat disturbance are critical to preventing further decline. Quartz exploration and development on ridgetops directly undermines caribou conservation objectives. Interim land withdrawals are therefore essential to prevent additional threats until robust, enforceable protections for caribou and their habitat are in place.

The LMU is designated as an ISA 2 in consideration of the existing development footprint. While the priority is protecting caribou, a small amount of additional development is allowed.

TR’ËHUDÈ AND STEWARDSHIP

“Caribou have provided food, traditional supplies/tools, and clothing for the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in people for thousands of years, and it is critical that this connection remain for future generations. As stewards of this land, it is crucial that the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in protect caribou and their habitat as it is a part of cultural continuity and a way of life. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in did not harvest the Fortymile caribou herd for decades due to the depletion of the herd. In recent years the herd has rebounded to some extent and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have recently started to rebuild a cultural connection through subsistence harvesting activities.”

– Adapted from Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Review of the Dawson Regional Draft Plan, 2021

“We are protecting the land, animals, and environment that can’t speak for themselves.”

– Debbie Nagano, DRPC Chair

LMU DIRECTIONS

1. Due to the associated risks, heap-leach mining is not supported in this LMU under the current regulatory regime and with commonly used technologies.
2. Interim withdrawal of all lands from quartz staking until:
   1. Plan Review, at which point the Parties and the Commission, informed by the most recent information, including the health of the herd and updated mineral legislation, would work together to decide whether the interim withdrawal should be lifted; or
   2. Such a time as both Parties agree to remove withdrawal; or
   3. When a Fortymile caribou plan is created and deemed sufficient to protect the herd by both Parties. This plan would have to contain sufficient direction regarding the prioritization of the herd in relation to any industry.
3. This area is located within important caribou herd ranges. It is crucial to maintain key caribou migration pathways and to minimize disturbance to key habitat. Stewardship Directions for the caribou overlays (Section 5.2.4) must be followed.
4. Development footprint is allowed according to ISA 2 surface disturbance and linear feature density thresholds.
5. When a claim expires it should be withdrawn from further staking while interim withdrawal is in place.
6. Development should take special precautions to ensure minimal disturbance to caribou, their habitat, and migration routes. Proponents should:
   1. Follow timing windows for caribou as determined by the Parties during the assessment and regulatory process.
   2. Identify and avoid areas with suitable lichen habitat before undertaking mineral development activities.
   3. Apply reclamation standards that maximize the regrowth of caribou-suitable habitat, including lichen, and avoid reclamation that leads to dense, wide thickets of willow in major creek or river bottoms.
   4. Include specific wildlife monitoring and mitigation plans in their project that consider impacts to caribou and, at a minimum, establish a phased approach to actions taken when caribou are present.
7. Fire suppression options should be considered in areas and implemented if deemed necessary by the Parties to protect important caribou habitat (especially lichen areas) as a response to the potential increase in frequency and intensity of fire activity due to climate change.
8. With regards to the Fortymile and Sixty Mile rivers:
   1. Do not block the flow of water in either the Fortymile or Sixtymile rivers.
   2. Do not allow ground disturbance or storage of contaminants (including fuel storage, outhouses, waste materials, and tailings ponds) within 30 m of the high-water mark.
   3. Reclamation of existing disturbances should be directed towards standards that protect heritage and water values.
   4. Use existing access points wherever possible.
   5. Access should be shared.
9. This area is located within important caribou herd ranges. It is crucial to maintain key caribou migration pathways and to minimize disturbance to key habitat. Stewardship Directions for the caribou overlays (Section 5.3.4) must be followed.