Candidate Area Working Groups
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.
Candidate area working groups are usually set up once an area has been sponsored for protection in Step 3 of the PAS process. Working groups help evaluate the candidate protected area and make recommendations about the future status and management of the area.
Who is on a working group?
A working group should reflect the different interests held in a candidate protected area. A working group usually includes representatives from:
- each community with an interest in the area;
- each regional Aboriginal organization with an interest in the area;
- the sponsoring agency;
- each organization that contributes funding; and
- other directly affected parties (e.g. outfitters, mineral lease holders).
What does a working group do?
Oversees assessment reports
- Makes sure cultural, ecological, and economic assessments of the area are accurate and include all the appropriate information.
- Reviews the reports to better understand all of the values of the area.
Determines the purpose of the candidate protected area
- Discusses how the values of the area can be protected, what activities may be permitted in the area, and how compatible activities can be monitored and managed.
Consults with communities, industry and the public
- Makes sure communities, industry, and the public are involved throughout the process.
- Helps determine how affected parties would like to see the area managed.
Makes recommendations
- Provides recommendations to the sponsoring agency as well as responsible Aboriginal, federal, and territorial government agencies on the final boundary and designation, as well as how the area should be managed.
What is expected of working group members?
Working group members have a very important role in communicating information from their organization to the working group. Working group members also share information from the working group with their organization or community.
Working groups usually meet two to three times a year, and also work together on conference calls. Between meetings, working group members review reports and discuss the work with their organizations and/or communities.
What authority does a working group have?
The working group makes recommendations on the final designation, the boundaries, and management considerations for a candidate area to the sponsoring agency as well as the responsible Aboriginal, federal and territorial government agencies. The working group does not have the final authority over whether an area is granted permanent protection or the details of the management plan.
