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.