The Conference of Management Authorities has released a new management plan to help protect Northern Mountain Caribou in the Northwest Territories.
This plan is the result of a collaborative effort by wildlife management authorities across the range of northern mountain caribou in the NWT. The plan will provide guidance on stewardship and long-term management of northern mountain caribou and their habitat throughout the NWT.
Northern mountain caribou were added to the NWT List of Species at Risk as a species of Special Concern in 2021. These mountain-dwelling caribou are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and disrespectful hunting practices. Loss of key habitat, such as ice patches in the Mackenzie Mountains used to escape insects and cool down in the summer, is already occurring. Mineral exploration is expected to further open access to caribou for hunters and predators.
The NWT management plan is based on the Government of Canada’s management plan for northern mountain caribou, released in 2012. It shares the same goals and objectives as the federal plan. The NWT plan also points to updated information for the NWT available in the 2020 NWT species status report, identifies knowledge gaps and highlights work that is already underway to conserve northern mountain caribou in the NWT.
