Board approves Bathurst Caribou Action Plan

The Wek'èezhìı Renewable Resources Board (WRRB) approved the first Bathurst Caribou Action Plan at its board meeting on Sept. 14. 

The plan, which was drafted in December 2021 by the Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee (BCAC), aims to protect the vulnerable Kǫk’èetì Ekwǫ̀ herd and requires the WRRB’s approval before being fully implemented by the GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). 

Full implementation of the program is expected to take place before the end of  2022 after it receives a signature by ENR Minister Shane Thompson. 

The implementation of this plan is more important now than ever, especially after the most recent survey results which shows that herd numbers continued to drop from 8,200 in 2018 to 6,400 in 2021.

There were 470,000 individuals in the mid-eighties. 

The Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee (BCAC) drafted the Action plan after the first annual status meeting in December 2021 but the document was only brought to the board this fall. 

BCAC consists of 17 organizations including the WRRB, Indigenous governments, hunters and trappers organizations and management boards from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Saskatchewan. 

An overview was provided to the Board of the main recommendations in the document that included emphasis on the herd’s critical low status. Based on the status, the working group recommended a number of management actions. For harvest, it is recommended to maintain the zero total allowable harvest here in NWT and the 10 bulls that are allowed in Nunavut. There is no harvest in Saskatchewan currently as the herd does not winter in that area and as the herd's small size has resulted in a significantly smaller range.

Other recommendations that came out of the action plan included the continued use of GNWT ENR’s Mobile Caribou Zone to ensure that the zero total allowable harvest limit is maintained in the NWT.

The North Slave Métis Alliance, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and  Tłı̨chǫ Government  will also continue monitoring the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road for the harvest of the Beverly caribou herd and check stations will continue to be maintained by the territorial government, according to the plan. 

Predators 

Part of the action plan also includes some discussion on the Wolf Management Program, which is in Year 3 of 5.

BCAC recommended to the Board the continuation of the program the enhanced incentives for dìga harvested on Kǫk’èetı̀ and Sahtì Ekwǫ̀ ranges, and predator monitoring.

The working group also recommended that the GNWT continue its surveying, monitoring and collaring programs and offered support for other ongoing activities like Indigenous Guardians, Łutsel K’e bear monitoring program, and the Ekwǫ̀ Nàxoèdee K’è  (Boots on the Ground) Program.

The action plan is calling for maintaining efforts to learn more about the Kǫk’èetı̀ Ekwǫ̀ herd by working with academic institutions, researchers, and other caribou expert organizations. 

The Bathurst Caribou Range Plan is also recommended to be implemented in addition to other measures that can be identified to limit physical and sensory disturbances on the Kǫk’èetı̀ Ekwǫ̀ range.

The Wek'èezhìı Renewable Resources Board (WRRB) will continue to provide updates on the action plan’s implementation and status of the Kǫk’èetı̀ Ekwǫ̀ on its website and Facebook page.