Types of Protected Areas in the NWT
The NWT Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) outlines a community-based process to establish a network of protected areas across the NWT. It recognizes the need to balance conservation and economic development, while respecting Aboriginal rights, third party interests, and land use planning processes.
What is a 'protected area'?
The definition of protected area used by the PAS is that of the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): A clearly defined geographic
space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective
means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem
services and cultural values (IUCN
Guidelines for Applying Protected Areas Management Categories, Edited by N.
Dudley, 2008). Under the strategy, the purpose of a protected
area is to safeguard specific natural and cultural values and to preserve areas
representative of each ecoregion.
The PAS may provide one of two basic kinds of protection:
- For special natural and cultural areas: Certain activities may be allowed if done in ways that people believe will work within the area. For example, territorial parks may allow some types of oil and gas exploration or business opportunities.
- For representative areas within one of the NWT's 42 ecoregions: Industrial activities are not allowed. For example, National Parks do not allow industrial activities.
What types of protected areas exist in the NWT?
Communities and their protected areas partners discuss why they want an area protected, and decide how much protection is needed. This helps them choose a sponsoring government agency with the appropriate laws for protecting the land.
Current PAS sites include:
- One National Historic Site, protected under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act and Territorial Lands Act.
- Proposed National Wildlife Areas to be protected under the National Wildlife Act.
- One Proposed Critical Wildlife Area to be protected under the Northwest Territories' Wildlife Act.
Parks Canada and their partners are developing National Parks outside the PAS process.
National Wildlife Areas
Territorial Protected Areas under the PAS
- Critical Wildlife Area
- Wilderness Conservation Area
- Cultural Conservation Area
- Natural Environment Park/Heritage Park
For a comparison of the different legislation and links to the various Acts and Regulations, visit the PAS Sponsoring Agency Legislation page.
