Chapter 10 of the Yukon Final Agreements is all about Special Management Areas – that means parks, bird sanctuaries, heritage sites, watershed protection areas, or habitat protection areas.
The goal of Chapter 10 is to recognize and maintain important features of the Yukon's natural and cultural environment for the benefit of all Yukoners, while respecting the rights of Yukon First Nations.
Each First Nation in their Final Agreement names areas within their Traditional Territories that are designated as Special Management Areas. Working with Government of Yukon and Government of Canada, they develop joint management plans for these areas.
Kusawa Territorial Park (park in progress) is designated as a Special Management Area in two Land Claim Agreements and is part of three Traditional Territories.
The Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area is an environmentally and culturally rich area located between the Pelly and Stewart Rivers. The Final Agreements for both First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun and Selkirk First Nation established the sanctuary as a Special Management Area.
Ni''iinlii Njik (Fishing Branch) Territorial Park and adjacent Habitat Protection Area and Settlement Lands protect a distinct ecosystem in the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwichin First Nation.
Kusawa Territorial Park (park in progress) is designated as a Special Management Area in two Land Claim Agreements and is part of three Traditional Territories.
The Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area is an environmentally and culturally rich area located between the Pelly and Stewart Rivers. The Final Agreements for both First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun and Selkirk First Nation established the sanctuary as a Special Management Area.
Ni''iinlii Njik (Fishing Branch) Territorial Park and adjacent Habitat Protection Area and Settlement Lands protect a distinct ecosystem in the Traditional Territory of the Vuntut Gwichin First Nation.
There are 19 Special Management Areas set out in the Final Agreements. This includes 7 of Yukon’s 8 large territorial parks.
Special Management Areas were created as a part of the negotiation process so they could later be designated as national parks, territorial parks, habitat protection areas, or wildlife protection areas. Tombstone Territorial Park and Vuntut National Park are examples of parks that were created through the Yukon Agreements.
Special Management Areas can be protected through different laws depending on what needs safeguarding. The Yukon and National Parks Acts, Yukon and Canadian Wildlife Acts, and Yukon’s Heritage Resources Act are all laws that can be used to protect these areas.
Yukon Conservation Areas: bringing life to land claims
Yukon has 7 territorial parks, 4 national parks, 12 Habitat Protection and Special Management Areas. Some of these areas are established and some are in the process of being designated protected areas.
With 11 ground-breaking land claim and self-government agreements, the Yukon is a leader across Canada and around the world
Settling these agreements involved decades of hard work, innovation and commitment by leaders and visionaries and are mapping the way to a better future for all Yukoners.
Learn more about the journey that brought us to where we are and continues today.