Guest Editorial: The Future of Wildlife Management in the N.W.T.

Abstract

In the last 20 years there has been an astonishing number of changes in research and management of wildlife in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.). The traditional roles and viewpoints of government departments and native people are evolving with remarkable speed. Factors such as settlement of land claims, a rapidly increasing native population, changing patterns of renewable resource use, and the influence of independent environmental groups are becoming increasingly important. ... In summary, it is clear that sustained use of wildlife will continue to be fundamental to the culture and economy of native people in the N.W.T. for the foreseeable future. At the same time, it must not be forgotten that wildlife and wilderness are also very important to non-native people and they should not be overlooked in the rush to settle land claims. Although the majority of the harvested wildlife populations are reasonably secure at the moment, that will not continue indefinitely. Change stimulated by natural causes alone is fundamental to biology. In addition, wildlife in the N.W.T. remains vulnerable because of increasing demand by a rapidly expanding human population, the potential impact of industrial development on habitat, the longer term negative effects of global pollution, and the uncertainties of climate change. In a world becoming generally more opposed to any killing of animals, it is essential that critics understand the importance of hunting and trapping to cultural values and that harvested populations be sustained. As never before, the consumptive and non-consumptive use of wildlife in the N.W.T. must be guided, and seen to be guided, by scientific research of unquestionable quality. Yet science is only part of the answer. The unique knowledge and cultural practices of northern native people must also be kept intact. With imagination and mutual respect between groups, traditional and modern approaches could be combined to develop wildlife management in the N.W.T. in a way that would be the envy of the world.