Nunavut Protected Areas
Lands and Regulations Issues & Advocacy
This data was accurate as of April 2008.
Page Index
Land
description
Brief history
Process
of development/consultation type
PAS
implementation and candidate PA selection process
Results
First nations land claim
settlements
Post-completion and on-going issues
Government Departments, Agencies and
Legislation, for further information
Non-governmental organizations
Land
description:
The current area protected in Nunavut is 14% or
approximately 30 million hectares (2007).
The land and fresh water area of the Nunavut is
209,319,000 hectares with the land only area being 193,611,300
hectares. Approximately 83% of land in Nunavut is Crown or public with
the remaining 17% being private, held as Inuit Owned Lands (IOLs).
There are four National Parks covering a total of 9.956 million ha as
well as 20 protected area sites which include territorial parks,
conservation and historic sites and 2 wildlife reserves, covering
approximately 5.4 million hectares. The Inuit Owned Lands amount to
approximately 35 million hectares of which 3.5 million hectares include
mineral rights. All national and territorial parks and wildlife
reserves are prohibited from industrial uses, however, mineral
exploration is permitted in game sanctuaries with restrictions. The
Territory has 10 designated natural regions.
Brief History: (prior to initiation of land
use plan and development)
The 1993 Nunavut Land Claim Agreement (NLCA) recognized the value
and desirability of parks and conservation areas and defined the
approach to the establishment of protected areas including community
involvement, management and impact and benefit measures.
Process of Development/Consultation Type:
The Government of Nunavut has committed to the development of a
Nunavut Park Program, to be followed by the creation of a Parks
and Conservation Areas System Plan, and the development of a
Protected Areas Strategy within these contexts.
The Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated Lands Department
and the Regional Inuit Associations Lands Managers are working to
develop guidelines and policies as to how the Land Policy Advisory
Committee will work within the Inuit Owned Lands in the Nunavut
Settlement Area.
The West Kitikmeot/Slave Study Society is comprised
of aboriginal organizations, both levels of government, the mining
industry and environmental groups to coordinate research to develop a
comprehensive database to be used in making informed decisions related
to park formation and mine site approval.
PAS Implementation and Candidate PA selection
process:
The Government of Nunavut works closely with Parks Canada, the Canadian
Wildlife Service and the communities of Nunavut in developing proposal
areas into national and territorial parks and wildlife areas. The
identification of Critical Wildlife Areas helps to ensure the continued
protection and conservation of polar bears and caribou in keeping with
scientific and traditional knowledge of wildlife habitats. All
protected areas are included in regional land use planning initiatives.
The lead agency for land use planning is the Nunavut Planning
Commission. The territory is divided in to six planning regions: North
Baffin, South Baffin, West Kitikmeot, Akunniq, Keewatin and Sanikiluaq.
An Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement (IIBA) for
Territorial Parks was announced in 2002 and will play an important role
in ensuring that Inuit have significant input into the planning and
development of Nunavuts territorial parks.
Results:
During the land selection process, over 22.5 million hectares of land
(11%) were set aside for Territorial and National Parks, and
Conservation Areas. The NLCA also identified an additional 7.2 million
hectares (3.4%) for protected area status.
Post-completion or On-Going issues:
Development of a Nunavut Park Program and creation of a Parks and
Conservation Areas System Plan, leading to development of a Protected
Areas Strategy.
First Nations Land Claim Settlements:
The Inuit are the only First Nation in Nunavut. The Nunavut Land Claims
Agreement was signed in 1993 giving the Nunavut government complete
discretion in selecting, creating and maintaining territorial protected
areas.
Government Departments, Agencies and
Legislation, for further information:
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/
Canada Mining Regulations 1999
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act 1993
Nunavut Water and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act 2002
Territorial Parks Act (amndmt 2003)
Environment Canada
www.ec.gc.ca
Environmental Protection Act 1988
Parks Canada
www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
Canada National Parks Act 2000
Natural Resources
www.nrcan.gc.ca/
Natural Resources Conservation Act 1999
Government of Nunavut:
Department of Environment
www.gov.nu.ca/env
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
www.tunngavik.com/
Land Policy Advisory Committee
Nunavut Wildlife Management Board
www.nwmb.com/
Nunavut Impact Review Board
http://nirb.nunavut.ca/
Nunavut Planning Commission
www.npc.nunavut.ca/
Nunavut Water Board
www.nunavutwaterboard.org/
Non-governmental organizations
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