RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PLANNING AREA Advice to the Government of provided by the Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 0 Cover photo credits (clockwise from top left):

Aerial photos, Cliff Wallis, Task Force Member; Caribou, Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association; Paramount’s Zama Field Operations, Paramount Resources Ltd.; and , Boat Dock, and Bison, Mackenzie Frontier Tourist Association.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 1 Table of Contents

Message from the Chair ...... 1 Executive Summary ...... 2 Background ...... 3 The Task Force ...... 6 Task Force Mandate ...... 6 Members of the Task Force ...... 6 Recommendations ...... 8 Sub-regional Outcomes ...... 8 Review of 2017 Draft Woodland Caribou Provincial Range Plan ...... 8 Socio-economic Considerations ...... 8 Recommendations ...... 9 APPENDIX A - Outcomes ...... 35 APPENDIX B – Consensus Model ...... 40

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 0 Message from the Chair

As Minister of Alberta’s Environment and Parks, you know the true beauty and immense potential in Alberta’s landscape. I am also certain that the Government of Alberta fully understands the deep love and connection that Albertans prize with their land. Nonetheless, it bears highlighting how very true it is in and particularly in the Bistcho Lake sub-region. Of particular note are our Indigenous communities who have known this land and benefited from its bounty for centuries. Today a diverse group of Albertans live, play, and economically prosper on that same landscape. It is framed within these deep connections to the land that our Task Force worked together to develop our recommendations.

Last fall, the Government of Alberta established the Northwest Task Force to provide recommendations to inform the development of a Bistcho Lake sub-regional plan that includes measures for caribou recovery. The Government’s aim to plot a course that ensures both a healthy environment and healthy communities now and for future generations to enjoy is one that our Task Force agrees with. As Chair, I believe this vision was integral to the Task Force’s discussions and recommendations. I am proud of the work that we as a Task Force were able to accomplish. Every member of the Task Force represents community members or advocacy groups who have a stake in successful sub-regional and caribou range planning. To their great credit every member thoughtfully considered how to not only find solutions that met the needs of their own community or group, but also served the interests of the community and region at large. It is now the responsibility of every Task Force member to continue their work and communicate to all Albertans, but particularly their own stakeholders, the value in land-use planning that succeeds and a landscape that continues to provide and support those who live, work and play in the Bistcho Lake sub-region.

With a deadline of six months to develop our recommendations, the Task Force was quite eager to get to work. While it is never an easy task for any multi-stakeholder group under normal circumstances, our members understood the importance of this report and getting it right, even under the extraordinary circumstances of the last few months.

This Task Force’s scope is larger than past planning initiatives. We were specifically tasked with reviewing both ecological and socio-economic considerations. This scope allowed for fulsome discussions that addresses key concerns for all Task Force members. I also believe that these recommendations are in line with the Government’s mandate to reduce red tape for industry and improve investor confidence in Alberta, while balancing caribou and environmental considerations. Our members have recognized the importance of improving the management of our lands to enable economic development, recreational and indigenous opportunities, and environmental sustainability. This holistic approach will help ensure that future generations of Albertans can fully experience the environmental, economic, and social benefits of our lands and resources. To put it simply, these recommendations are made by Albertans for Albertans; to find a path forward to land-use planning that supports caribou recovery outcomes in North-western Alberta.

I want to sincerely thank all of the members of this Task Force for their contributions and dedication to this process. The development of these recommendations is the first step in drafting a sub-regional plan tailored for the Bistcho Lake area.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 1 Executive Summary

The Government of Alberta (GoA) is taking a holistic approach to caribou recovery planning through the use of sub-regional plans, aligning the geographic scope and impetus for planning initiatives with local peoples’ and organizations’ understanding and use of our landscapes. In the Fall of 2019, the Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force (Task Force) was one of three task forces established to develop recommendations to inform the development of a sub-regional plan. The initial focus for the Task Force is the Bistcho Lake sub-regional area, which includes the Bistcho woodland caribou range. These task forces were unique in the scope of participants and included First Nations, Métis, municipalities, trappers, environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs), forest industry, and energy industry. Their purpose was to develop recommendations that:

 address caribou recovery priorities, including working toward achieving and maintaining naturally self-sustaining caribou populations over the long term,

 consider multi-species conservation,  consider any socio economic opportunities and impacts for the area,  consider recreational pursuits and other societal interests, and  consider impact on the exercise of Treaty rights and traditional uses.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force

The Task Force developed recommendations to inform the development of a sub-regional plan for the Bistcho Lake sub-region and worked together between November 2019 and April 2020. To guide its recommendations, the Task Force identified a set of sub-regional outcomes to define the Task Force’s shared vision for the future state of this sub-region. These outcomes spanned seven main areas – communities, economies, indigenous, caribou, multi-species, forest management, and integrated management – in alignment with the objectives in its terms of reference, and further expanded upon.

Throughout the Task Force process, members received presentations from subject matter experts from within the GoA, covering a variety of values and interests on the landscape, including energy, forestry, recreation, tourism and economic development as well future landscape scenario modelling. Task Force members worked hard with the information provided to develop recommendations that met and balanced the objectives given to them in their terms of reference.

When reviewing, editing and approving recommendations, the Task Force utilized a consensus model for decision-making (Appendix B). This allowed members to differentiate their level of consensus and non- consensus, so members could express their support or concern in a nuanced way. The approach, while new to some, was a unique feature of the Task Force process and was important to help move discussions forward. Despite the disruption to work and everyday life due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Task Force members continued their work, transitioning to online meetings. The result of Task Force members’ efforts to refine their recommendations during the final meeting in April, is 29 consensus recommendations. There were no non-consensus recommendations.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 2 Background

The Bistcho Lake sub-regional planning area is found in the northwest corner of Alberta. Its boundaries are formed by the border Alberta shares with the province of British Columbia to the west and the Northwest Territories to the north. To the south and east it follows the . Embedded within Treaty 8 Lands, it can be found fully within the Municipality of . Its boundary mirrors Alberta Wildlife Management Unit (WMU #539) which surrounds Bistcho Lake, with a slight deviation to match the Hay Rivers edge on its eastern boundary.

This area is important for a number of First Nations, Métis Settlements and Métis Locals within Alberta. The Dene Tha’ First Nation have a number of communities such as Chateh and Meander River which are located within the planning area. As well there are a number of Dene Tha’ Indian Reserve Lands (Jackfish Point #214, Bistcho Lake #213, Hay Lake #209, Amber River #211, Upper Hay River #212 and #210) which can be found scattered throughout the Bistcho Lake region that act as local staging areas of access to the Bistcho area and beyond. The Bistcho Lake area contains numerous cultural sites and is an extremely important cultural, spiritual, and harvesting place for the Dene Tha’. Oral histories and archeological evidence demonstrate Dene Tha’s reliance on and relationship with the Bistcho caribou herd as important for sustaining them throughout thousands of years.

There are also a number of additional local communities, such as Zama City and which act as central commercial and industrial hubs to these lands. The hamlet of Zama City lies within the Bistcho caribou range and is the only municipal community within the sub-region. This community relies heavily on the surrounding energy development in the area, and has provided local expertise and service companies to the oil and gas fields for over 50 years. The Towns of High Level and Rainbow Lake are located to the south of the sub-region. High Level acts as the central service center to the communities within the sub-region, for all services that are not available locally.

The sub-regional planning area overlaps with Forest Management Units (FMU) F14, F26 and F20. Volumes harvested in this area are used to supply a dimensional lumber sawmill in High Level, an oriented strand board facility near High Level and a dimensional lumber sawmill and pellet mill near the hamlet of La Crete. There is currently no forestry tenure or allocation in F20 beyond a small Community Timber Permit Program. The local sawmills also supply residual chips to the pulp mill near . In addition, the area overlaps with petroleum and natural gas formations. Current oil and gas operations are primarily localized to the southern and eastern portions of the sub-regional planning area. The Task Force was established to develop recommendations on how sub-regional planning can address these diverse activities to support the long-term sustainability of the area.

Within the boundaries of the sub-region can be found the range of the Bistcho woodland caribou population. Woodland caribou in Alberta are designated as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act, and under ’s Species at Risk Act (SARA). Canada’s Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou, Boreal population outlines that critical caribou habitat (undisturbed and biophysical considerations) must be conserved and managed. The strategy indicated that caribou ranges must achieve and maintain a minimum of 65 per cent undisturbed habitat within 50-100 years or more in order for populations to have

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 3 a 60 per cent likelihood of maintaining self-sustaining levels. The Bistcho caribou range is currently 6 per cent undisturbed.

In 2011 Environment Canada assessed the Bistcho caribou population as very unlikely to be self- sustaining, and in a 2017 update, describe the population as continuing to decline during the 2012-2017 period. Alberta’s caribou monitoring data indicates the Bistcho caribou population was in decline from 2007 to 2011, and that now the population may be stabilizing at reduced population levels. Recent population growth rate estimates indicate a stable population, however there is continued variation in growth rate among years.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 4 Figure 1. Map of Bistcho Lake Sub-Region

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 5 The Task Force Task Force Mandate

The GoA committed to taking a holistic approach to caribou recovery, ensuring the inclusion of stakeholders and local communities, and consideration of socio-economic impacts as part of the process.

The Task Force was one of three Minister-appointed multi-stakeholder Task Forces, convened in November 2019, tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the GoA to inform the development of sub-regional plans. Membership included individuals who live, work, recreate and/or have an interest in the region to ensure the recommendations reflect the variety of interests and values on the landscape.

The terms of reference directed the Task Force to deliberate and provide recommendations that meet the following objectives:

 address caribou recovery priorities, including working toward achieving and maintaining naturally self-sustaining caribou populations over the long term,  consider multi-species conservation,  consider any socio-economic opportunities and impacts for the area,  consider recreational pursuits and other societal interests, and  consider impact on the exercise of treaty rights and traditional uses.

Task Force members met in six, multi-day, facilitated meetings over the course of six months, with a transition to an online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Members reviewed material provided by various GoA ministries and Task Force members’ organizations, in order to deliberate on both outcomes and recommendations. Throughout this process, subject matter experts from the GoA’s ministries of Energy, Agriculture and Forestry, Indigenous Relations, and Economic Development, Trade and Tourism were present and available to support discussions when needed, to support the Task Force in the broad consideration of information. At the end of this process, the Task Force developed 29 recommendations for the GoA’s consideration. These recommendations provide stakeholder advice to the GoA.

Members of the Task Force

Sub-regional plans consider multiple values within a specific land base, including Indigenous traditional land use, community viability, industrial land use, recreational land use, multi-species conservation, caribou recovery, and adjacent area land uses such as existing protected areas.

To ensure the recommendations considered the vast and varied perspectives of the sub-region, the Task Force included representation from a diverse group of stakeholders. The Task Force included representatives from local governments, Indigenous groups, the energy sector, the forestry sector, trappers, and ENGOs (Table 1).

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 6 Table 1. Task Bistcho Lake Sub-Region Task Force Members

Organization Task Force Member

Task Force Chair MLA Dan Williams

Tolko Industries Ltd. Allan Bell

Alberta Wilderness Association Cliff Wallis Alternate: Carolyn Campbell Alternate: Nissa Petterson

Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Crystal McAteer

Treaty 8 Fred Didzena Alternate: Matt Munson

Métis Nation of Alberta Garrett Tomlinson Alternate: Theo Peters

Canadian Energy Pipeline Association Jennifer Barker Alternate: Catherine Watson

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Kecia Kerr Alberta Alternate: Tara Russell

Alberta Trappers Association Lee Rueb Alternate: Brian Bildson

Northwest Species at Risk Committee Lisa Wardley

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Nicholas Gafuik Alternate: Krista Phillips

Métis Settlement General Council Rene Cunningham Jr.

Alberta Forest Products Association Stefan Szabo

Explorers and Producers Association of Canada Terence Hughes

Rural Municipalities of Alberta Tom Burton

Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) Brian Makowecki

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 7 Recommendations Sub-regional Outcomes

To help guide the development of recommendations, Task Force members discussed their vision for the sub-region, and what outcomes were most important to them and their sector. Seven main outcome topics emerged, including:

1) Communities (Work, Live, Play); 2) Social, Indigenous, and Market Economies; 3) Indigenous; 4) Caribou Conservation; 5) Multi-species Conservation; 6) Effective Forest Management; and 7) Integrated Management.

There were a total of 59 outcomes identified through this process (Appendix A).

Review of 2017 Draft Woodland Caribou Provincial Range Plan

As part of its mandate from the Minister, the Task Force was asked to review the management approaches proposed in the Draft Provincial Woodland Caribou Range Plan, in the context of the Bistcho Lake sub-region. The purpose of this review was threefold:

1. To identify management approaches that may be relevant to this sub-regional planning process; 2. To identify management approaches that require additional considerations as part of the sub- regional planning process; and 3. To identify management approaches that are not applicable to this sub-region.

To understand what management approaches were valuable and which ones did not apply in this sub- region, the Task Force were asked to evaluate how the management approaches within the draft range plan align against their outcomes. In addition, the Task Force members reviewed management approaches when developing recommendations to provide advice on how those approaches could move forward or be modified for use within their recommendations for the Bistcho Lake sub-regional plan.

While the draft range plan was reviewed as part of this process, this should not be considered as endorsement, or opposition, to the plan. Rather, the review simply provides a perspective on what was, and was not, of value for achieving its mandate.

Socio-economic Considerations

As part of its mandate, the Task Force identified socio-economic considerations to include as part of the socio-economic assessment of the sub-regional plan. This includes identifying socio-economic considerations in recommendations and directly with the consultant retained by the GoA. The Task Force’s mandate was not to review socio-economic scenarios based on its recommendations, but rather to understand how the assessment will be conducted and help identify potential data gaps or where indicators may be missing. This feedback will help ensure the GoA completes a systematic socio- economic assessment of its sub-regional plan.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 8 The consultants the GoA retained to complete the socio-economic impact assessment for the Bistcho Lake Sub-regional Plan – Nichols Applied Management (Nichols) and North Raven Consulting (North Raven) met with the Task Force and interviewed some members. Nichols and North Raven’s participation in these meetings included delivering presentations on the how the socio-economic impact analysis of sub-regional planning will occur. In brief, the presentations provided an overview of their intended approach, potential effect pathways, key indicators, data sources and potential stakeholder groups. Each presentation was followed by question and answer sessions and, in some cases, a group discussion. Key feedback the Task Force provided in these sessions included the following:

 The Socio-economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) should include a cumulative effects analysis that reflects the impacts to companies or communities who are affected by multiple range plans.

 The characterization of the existing (or baseline) conditions in communities or of firms should not be limited to a snapshot in time (e.g. today) but should reflect the state of the world prior to any restrictions related to range planning. Furthermore, the variability in the business cycle and related elements (e.g. commodity prices) as well as other sources of uncertainty (e.g. climate change legislation, tenure restrictions) should also be considered when characterizing the baseline scenario.

 The SEIA should explore possible mitigations that the GoA could employ to support communities who may experience significant adverse effects.

 Additional indicators could include levels of self-employment, unreported crime, and industry support provided to community groups.

 The SEIA should consider the benefit of a healthy bio-physical environment to all residents and land users of the region.

 The SEIA should incorporate traditional knowledge sources and activities. Traditional land use and culture should be explored through interviews with trappers and other land users. Key activities that could be investigated include bartering, self-consumption, and super-harvesting.

 It would be helpful to develop mutually acceptable processes that permit consultant access to Indigenous communities' existing data for use in SEIAs.

Recommendations

The Task Force’s recommendations are meant to address the range of activities, interests, and values in the Bistcho Lake sub-region. As such, the recommendations reflect the collective vision Task Force members have for the sub-region, and will enable achievement of that vision if implemented together.

The contributions and collaboration of Task Force members was integral to our success. This report would not be what it is without their efforts and a collective willingness to pursue and engage in discussions to create shared understandings and find acceptable solutions. It is because of the commitment of each individual Task Force member and the representation of diverse sectors, that we believe these recommendations represent a diversity of Albertans’ interests.

While working together to develop outcomes and recommendations, the Task Force discussed and agreed upon a set of assumptions that became a foundation for our conversations and proposed recommendations. The assumptions provide important context for our recommendations:

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 9  The sub-regional plan needs to achieve the requirements outlined in the federal Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou, Boreal Population.

 All required lower-level plans must be aligned with the sub-regional plan, with transitional provisions to ease the adjustment period, if necessary.

 Alberta, in collaboration with Indigenous nations, should aspire to implement principles within the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in the development and implementation of any sub-regional plan(s).

 The sub-regional plan should support, and recognize the importance of, sustainable economic development to local communities.

Task Force members had the responsibility to represent and work with their sectors to ensure recommendations considered a broad range perspectives. While our recommendations reflect these other interests to the best of our ability, we recognize the need for both public engagement and formal indigenous consultation on the Bistcho Lake Sub-regional Plan to ensure that others have an opportunity to understand and provide input on the plan. Our Task Force members are providing clear advice that the GoA engage with stakeholders and consult with Indigenous peoples on a draft plan that is based upon our recommendations.

Additionally, Task Force members believe the sub-regional plan can only be successful if local communities are involved and engaged throughout its implementation. The contributions from local perspectives and knowledge is a strength of these recommendations, and should continue to be recognized as a foundation for future planning and development within Northwest Alberta.

The Task Force understands that any sub-regional plan developed from these recommendations will be evaluated and updated as new information or situations emerge. Adaptive management, including monitoring, evaluation and adaptation will be part of this iterative process, including the review, and implementation of updates to the plan every five to 10 years.

The recommendations that follow are the result of several months of Task Force members working collaboratively together. In their final meeting in April, 29 recommendations were reviewed, with all of them achieving group consensus. As such, there is no reporting on non-consensus throughout the recommendations.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 10 Recommendations for the Bistcho Lake Sub-regional planning area

NOTE: “Considerations” under each recommendation are key supplements to the recommendation and aim to facilitate the work of planners in what should be considered when addressing the recommendation in the sub-regional plan (e.g. specific groups to involve, possible approaches to consider, current work to link to, or past work to learn from).

1. Adaptive Management should be considered in all aspects of sub-regional plan, and Government of Alberta should create criteria that would trigger a re-assessment of caribou protection strategies Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Ensures management actions can be modified based on new information.  GoA will review the sub-regional plan at least every 5 years from its approval, and COMM-  Make caribou range plans adaptive in case conditions change. updates will be implemented at least every 10 years; with the flexibility to adapt earlier if 01, 04,  Adjustments only happen if required (i.e. significant degree of change occurs), in order to conditions change. provide certainty for stakeholders.  When the review is undertaken, significant changes (i.e. environmental, social, economic, ECON-01,  Actions are monitored and reviewed to ensure lessons learned are incorporated into the or regulatory conditions) are assessed to determine if the plan needs to be adjusted. 11, next plan update. o The severity of change needs to be identified. CAR-01,  If natural disturbance affects a significant portion of the caribou range, more than 1 year 04 before a regular plan update, GoA will provide a management response in collaboration MSP-02, with key stakeholders and Indigenous peoples. 03, 04  GoA should create and measure criteria against targets to trigger a plan re-assessment, including around: IM-01, 02 o Fire; o Catastrophic events; o Climate; and o Knowledge and science.  Actions are monitored and reviewed, and lessons learned are incorporated into next update (e.g. if winter planting doesn’t work after 2 years, management actions would change in the next plan update and lessons learned would be documented).

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 11 2. Hay-Zama bison continue to be monitored and managed for population and health

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Manage the herd to increase population size and prevent the spread of disease and  Population monitoring and manage bison by issuing hunting tags. MSP-06, cross-contamination from the Wood Buffalo National Park herd. o Outfitter tags should be issued, which could influence tourism.  The bison population is an important resource in the sub-region.  Resources are available to monitor and test the herd for disease status. 08  Contribution to apparent competition and alternate prey; how the bison population could COMM- influence caribou populations. 01, 04  GoA to determine how this should be funded. ECON-05,  Management options should continue to provide opportunities for hunting and prevention of contact with diseased populations. 07 o Evaluate the possibility of hosting a yearly smaller hunt in order to eliminate IND-01, complacency of the herd, instead of large hunt every few years. 03  The existing agreements (Agreement Tri-partite, 1984) and updates with existing CAR-08 commitments to harvest distribution and priority: sustenance, guided outfitting, then lottery tags.  Establish a local group (that could involve the guardian program or the previous committee with the understanding that the program is local, and inclusive) to meet to review information and local communities’ about concerns with the hunt, considerations, monitoring, and other input.  Dene Tha’ First Nation also has a funding application to Canada’s Aboriginal Fund for Species At Risk to undertake monitoring in cooperation with Provincial and Federal departments.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 12 3. Ensure inter-jurisdictional research and monitoring programs engage partners, which are accessible to the public, provide consistency, and are repeatable

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Cross-boundary herds are a shared responsibility across jurisdictions.  Monitoring must inform and contribute to the plan outcomes through sound research and MSP-02,  Allows for transparency on progress on caribou habitat restoration, population recovery, monitoring design. and accountability to SARA.  Funded (or partially funded) by GoA, using resources that already exist. 05 o Monitors human activities that could impact desired outcomes.  Establish appropriate targets for monitoring and transparent reporting, and develop a CAR-06,  Helps monitor the risk of disease in caribou populations. registry of data sources and ongoing programs. 07, 09  Supports reconciliation efforts by expanding the connection of indigenous people to the  Coordinate programs between all stakeholders, other jurisdictions, industry, GoA, First IM-01, 03, land and providing stewardship opportunities. Nations, Métis, and trappers.  First Nations, Métis and trappers can provide unique perspectives through inclusive o Community monitoring and information gathering when appropriate. 04 participation. o Take into account health and safety risks, experience and training (e.g. COMM-  Improved transparency builds better public acceptance and support of communities in helicopter time). 04, 08 plan. o Engage with the most active trappers to take advantage of this, but ensure we  Efficiencies in the program is added by using people in local communities and may know who’s actively trapping, and review non-active traplines. increase opportunities for stakeholders. o Information data sharing agreements are available among stakeholders.  In order to have adaptive management, a plan needs characteristics that address these o Expand the mortality investigation to include community and stakeholders, when topics to allow the assessment of progress. appropriate. o Predator/wolf monitoring program is key to validating restoration assumptions. o Ensure monitoring activities do not negatively impact outcomes (e.g. increased compaction and wolf movement). o Develop a ranger/research station in Bistcho Lake using existing cabins (Dene Tha’). o Initiate a camera program to allow wildlife monitoring (e.g. CPAWS & Dene Tha’ working on a program where Indigenous guardians deploy cameras), using either a camera monitoring system or acoustic monitoring units, with the appropriate number of cameras needed to be effective.  GoA will issue annual progress reports and five-year stewardship reports for each caribou range, focused on monitoring population, habitat, and protection measures. o Ensure this is reportable under section 63 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), that includes work being done by other stakeholders in a coordinated approach.  GoA will carefully evaluate indicators relating to continued changes in climate, identifying, adapting to, and addressing challenges to caribou populations.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 13 4. Government of Alberta and its regulators will ensure timely reporting of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on the landscape

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Helps to understand the footprint that is occurring and then identify data gaps.  Completed land-use activities are reported in an appropriate timeframe in the disturbance COMM-  Ensures the transparency of information. updates. 01, 06  Enables the ability to do adaptive management within the plan. o Identify which sites are reclaimed or abandoned.  Reporting builds confidence in the plan.  Streamline the reporting to feed into the caribou reporting. CAR-02, o Alignment with existing reporting requirements. 05 o Ensure this is cost-effective by creating efficiencies for industrial submissions to ECON-09, assist with red tape reduction. o For all new footprint, simplify survey and align with existing regulations. 10  Systems are put in place to compile information and make it more accessible to a wider IM-02, 03, group of parties. 04  Forest health mapping is available, including on fire imagery, disease and invasive species (e.g. willow leaf miners and spruce budworm).  Include baseline references (i.e. pre-industrial disturbance).

5. Establish and implement a comprehensive sub-regional fire management plan

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Firefighting efforts will become more efficient and effective.  The fire management plan includes wildfire, traditional, and prescribed burns throughout EFM-02,  Recent fires have highlighted how geographically isolated these communities are, and all wildfire management units in the sub-region. how much risk fires can pose to communities. o Evaluate areas for prescribed burns or allowing natural fires to burn (i.e. areas 03, 04, 05  Reduces risk and increases protection of communities and infrastructure by preventing that are managed and areas that aren’t). COMM- catastrophic fire events. o The plan is anchored in the natural range of variation for the landscape. 01, 04, 05 o Create Alberta Vegetation Inventory (AVI) dataset in F20.  Areas outside the FMA are at greater risk for catastrophic fire risk, than areas within the IND-04, FMA due to older stand age.  Fire management plan supports sub-regional plan outcomes, including caribou recovery,  This area is prone to fires, this will minimize the potential for reduced industrial public safety, infrastructure, community, and indigenous interests. 05 development within caribou range. o Recognize high values including human life and evacuation routes that are ECON-01,  Develops a better understanding of how fires of different intensity supports or impacts limited currently. 09, 10 valuable habitat. o Consider utilizing existing and future infrastructure (e.g. multi-use corridors) for creating fire breaks. IND-07 o Caribou range values and priorities such as any rearing facility locations and CAR-02, critical habitat will be identified and shared with wildfire managers to inform 03, 05, 10 landscape wildfire risk management. o Assess natural and built (e.g. borrow pits) water supplies to facilitate firefighting. MSP-02, 03

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 14 . Water sources are required for development permits, and these need to IM-02, 03, be communicated to municipalities and interested parties. 04  Incorporate FireSmart principles and expand FireSmart program to beyond current scope for communities in the sub-region. o FireSmart contributes to the overall fire management plan. o Assess the critical values you would want to FireSmart around. o Include First Nations, Métis, and trapper input regarding assets (e.g. cabins). o Grazing areas (or similar areas) can act as firebreaks around communities, while providing economic benefits. o Include environmental and landscape features.

6. Meaningfully consider previous multi-stakeholder planning work

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Avoid costly rework and leverages existing information collected by groups to help make  Tolko’s NW Stewardship Collaboration: COMM- a well-informed plan that can optimize conservation values, sustainable resource o Terms of reference and letter of understanding; development, and protect Aboriginal and Treaty rights. o Conservation plan and Marxan analysis; 01, 04, 05, o Timber supply analysis; and 08 o Indigenous knowledge-informed VOITs. ECON-01  North Peace Tribal Council’s food security and food sharing network report. CAR-07  Arctic Institute’s (Dene Tha’ FN) traditional use study.  NWSAR’s projects: IM-04 o Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute project; and o CMR Consulting Socio-Economic work.  Socio-Economic work authored by Dr. Thomas Power.  Mercer caribou planning framework (includes NW region).  Tolko’s proposed community management plan.  Schneider’s NW Conservation Planning (includes DUC, CPAWS, and U of A).  CPAWS’ projects: o Conservation Blueprint; and o Caribou Range Planning documents.  Bistcho Lake IPCA Project Description.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 15 7. Strengthen internal ministerial processes to effectively coordinate approvals and developments to align with the sub-regional plan

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Coordinates access, development and management activities across ministries to  Inter-ministry coordination is required with key ministries and mandatory participation, IM-03, 04 minimize human footprint. with the appropriate policy in place to support.  Coordination between stakeholders leads to more effective planning. o Consider how to coordinate with other jurisdictions (i.e. Federal, B.C. and COMM-  A lack of coordination between sub-regional planning and other land-use activities leads N.W.T.). 01, 02, 03, to strain on communities and industries. o Government to government consultations with First Nations and Métis. 04, 05, 06, o  Consider using transitional provisions and planning cycle alignment to ease the If we lose our mills, the viability of our communities and indigenous communities 07, 08 is impacted. transition.  Prevents the duplication of work and ensure efficiencies of planning, when the  A strategic approach to coordinating access and infrastructure is achieved. IM-01, 03, implementation of other plans align with the sub-regional plan.  Forest management plans must be consistent and aligned with the sub-regional plan. 04  Legislative requirements in Alberta Land Stewardship Act require alignment. o Consider and coordinate with existing plans that are in place, and plan renewals, ECON-01,  Provides opportunity to identify a protected area, including co-management with and those plans should follow the sub-regional plan to ensure mills remain 11 Indigenous Nations. viable. o Sub-regional plan has to align with the principles of sustainable forest management.  The sub-regional plan will include guidance for the evaluation and full implementation of Hay-Zama Wildland Provincial Park management plan. o Manage the Hay-Zama Wildland Provincial Park to its intent, a re-assessment occurs to adjust it to serve as example of an IPCA, if meeting three criteria: . Co-managed; . Indigenous-led; and . Contributes to pathway to Canada target 1. o Re-evaluate the tourism focus of the current management plan. o Including activating the component of the original agreement that contains direction on the cessation and reclamation of land-use activities within the park. o Develop a new terms of reference and reinvigorate the Hay-Zama committee with a local focus. o Retain designation as a “wetland of international significance” under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. o Updates to the plan may be required to consider if the plan serves the needs of the sub-region and management opportunities with Indigenous Nations.  Municipal plans work with and inform sub-regional plans, with flexibility built in. o Sub-regional plan considers any land sales plans and the outstanding boundary change for the Hamlet of Zama.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 16 8. Work with local communities, stakeholders and Indigenous nations to effectively support the implementation of the sub-regional plan

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Consultation processes and dialogues to gather input and develop plans for  Develop a guardian program which consists of monitoring, restoration, patrol, and CAR-10, implementation. stewardship of the land.  Indigenous guardian program would provide community pride and improves the o Identifying and monitoring the current conditions of the indicators within the plan, 11, probability of achieving the desired outcomes of the sub-regional plan. informing GoA and other stakeholders, to identify adaptive management actions; COMM- o Connects youth and elders to transfer cultural practices. guardians are then part of the team to adjust towards those indicators. 01, 02, 03, o Collaborating with GoA and other stakeholders to gather data and be stewards of 04, 05, 06, land. o Consider other models for guardian programs, similar to those in Australia. 07, 08 o A long-term funding model is necessary; leverage existing federal funding. ECON-01,  GoA to establish a stakeholder advisory board to assist in coordinating development 02, 03, 04, plans, with appropriate supporting policy in place. o Local input, stewardship, and reporting on landscape activities can be 05, 06, 07, undertaken by stakeholders, including First Nations, Métis, and Trappers. 08, 09, 10, o A strategic approach to coordinating access and infrastructure is achieved. 11  Conservation closures. IND-01, o Use current bison program as model because it was developed in agreement with community. 02, 03, 04, o Assess other mechanisms to restrict access and activities. 05, 06, 07 IM-03, 04

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 17 9. Develop an optimized regional access management plan that coordinates access (both spatially and temporally) to minimize footprint and optimize access for all users

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Coordinate current and future development to reduce anthropogenic footprint, assist with  Does not include access for all users, everywhere, all the time; reflects optimized access COMM- prioritizing or coordinating the restoration, and enabling the protection of previously for all users, with an emphasis on accessing resources for development and minimizing restored areas. impacts. 01, 02, 03,  Represents the biggest opportunity to reduce cumulative effects and linear disturbance, o Optimize access and roads to resources, and overlap anthropogenic buffers 04, 05, 06, especially in the future. whenever possible. 07, 08 o Identify viable skeleton of a road system, which everyone has trust in, and define  Results in the improvement of regulatory efficiencies, creating a streamlined approval ECON-03, process. opportunities to build off.  Reducing linear footprint and access, over time, to critical areas for caribou, by  Details that should be incorporated into the design include: 05, 06, 07, coordinating access and eliminating unnecessary access. o Considerate of cost, access to resources, intensity of use, emergencies and 08, 09, 10,  Ensures activities that occur aren’t greater than the ability to restore. safety (e.g. single land bridges); including on pipelines; 11  Enables cost sharing and cost reduction to create efficiencies across industries. o Access for emergency egress and fire operations; o Multi-use corridors and municipal road networks are incorporated in the plan; IND-01,  Enables temporal avoidance of sensitive wildlife habitat during crucial periods of their life o Includes timing restrictions to accommodate caribou calving (including aerial 02, 03, 05, histories. access); 06 o Different industries have different time limits for roads, including differences over the short-term and long-term; IM-04 . Consider roads annually over several decades. . Roads are in place for as long as the development is required to support infrastructure and facilities. o Includes a motorized trail plan for recreational activities; and o Different classifications of roads are incorporated within the plan.  Crown-managed road network that is informed by stakeholders, including: o Involvement of companies operating on the landscape; o Hunting seasons are a temporally occurring event to be considered when coordinating land access; and o First Nations, Métis, trappers, oil and gas industry, and the forestry industry. . Consider an exemption for First Nations, Métis, and other non-industrial users. . Restrictive to efficiently operate and manage trap lines, most activities are low impact and take place on frozen ground.  Inter-ministry coordination is required to implement an access plan.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 18 10. Ensure the Regional Access Management Plan (RAMP) is initiated in a timely fashion for this sub-region

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Planned infrastructure including roads will allow for caribou habitat objectives to be  Access required by all stakeholders including but not limited to municipalities, industry, COMM- achieved in the long term. GoA, First Nations and Métis, etc.  Some current road infrastructure under consideration for reclamation.  RAMP identifies major roadways only (i.e. highways and Class I and II roads). 01, 02, 03,  Infrastructure planning can create certainty for investment.  Other infrastructure in the area, or proposed in the area, that roads could be consolidated 04, 05, 06, with (e.g. pipelines, rail lines, transmission lines). 07, 08 ECON-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 IND-04, 07 CAR-02, 03, 05, 10 MSP-01 IM-01, 02, 03, 04

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 19 11. Optimize land use and manage footprint to achieve sub-regional habitat objectives of targeted species, while maintaining a working landscape1

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Provides efforts to coordinate activities on the landscape and reduce human footprint.  In order to optimize footprint, high-priority caribou habitat (e.g. currently occupied areas IM-01, 02,  Provides safe spaces for caribou to decrease predation and represents an important step and with the best potential for recovery) should be identified. towards long term sustainable populations.  Surface access restrictions to be determined by the RAMP and informed by the 03, 04  Prevent new disturbance that would impact caribou populations and undermine modelling, while keeping sub-regional habitat objectives in mind. MSP-01, restoration efforts in the region.  Future sand and gravel development will be required to aggregate development to be 02 consistent with an optimized approved road network. CAR-01, o Existing sand and gravel agreements will be honoured, and adhere to approval processes and requirements in place at the time of surface approvals. 03, 04, 06,  Under the Allocation and Sustainable Management of Peat Resources on Public Land 08, 10, 11 directive, there will be no further allocation of peat resources within caribou ranges. IND-02 o Existing peat Surface Material Lease (SML) agreements will be honoured, and COMM- adhere to approval conditions in place at the time of SML approvals.  Low-impact seismic when conducting exploration, which incorporates technology, safety 01, 02, 03, considerations, site and project-specific considerations, and strives to avoid wildlife and 04, 05, 06, environmental impacts. 07, 08 o GoA to work with indigenous communities and industry to determine low impact practices that are appropriate for the sub-region. ECON-01, o Where low-impact seismic is not deemed appropriate, explore no-impact and 02, 03, 04, aerial seismic programs for their applicability. 05, 06, 07,  Necessary restoration initiated by 40 years with regular pace of interval. 08, 09, 10, o Includes a cost-benefit analysis of restoration treatment.  Evaluation of amount and distribution of high value and undisturbed biophysical habitat 11 for targeted species.  Implemented through coordination between ministries and industry.  Use spatial datasets to identify traditional seasonal land use, access, connectivity, and include this information the within socio-economic assessment (e.g. food security).

1 As defined in the draft Provincial Woodland Caribou Range Plan: An area of land managed for multiple environmental, social and economic objectives. These objectives include environmental conservation, as well as human use for social and economic values. In the context of caribou, this is Green Area public land managed by the provincial government on behalf of Albertans. These are forested lands managed for multiple uses including forestry, energy and other resource development, habitat conservation, and protected of watersheds and biodiversity.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 20 12. Transmission line right-of-ways will allow minimal access for maintenance and inspections, however strategies to mitigate access and movement must be employed where applicable

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Allows for reduced line of sight and human and predator access.  Retaining vegetation underneath transmission lines is the preferred approach, followed ECON-10  Helps create caribou habitat along linear corridors. by vegetation being re-established where applicable. CAR-10  Enables the coordination of restoration on adjacent seismic lines if applicable. o Differences between distribution and transmission lines are accounted for. o Vegetation type depends on the voltage and height of power lines. MSP-07 o To the extent possible, predator movement is mitigated. IM-02 . Mitigation strategies should minimize the use of herbicide. o Includes strategies to mitigate access through corridors; particularly when crossing other features (e.g. dog legs).  Regulatory mechanism is required to allow access easily in the case of emergency.  Align right-of-ways within multi-use corridors to mitigate threats of forest fires.  Safety and fire risks are evaluated against vegetation approaches on transmission lines.

13. Industrial footprint will avoid, to the greatest extent possible, areas of significant caribou occupancy in critical caribou habitat during the first 5 year period

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Provides certainty over where industry and economic opportunities can operate.  GoA biologists to determine areas of significant occupancy. CAR-01, o Gives certainty to other activities and groups. o Idea of significant occupancy needs to be identified to all relevant stakeholders,  Gives populations time to increase if areas are avoided. with rationale. 10  Allows time to collect data to support caribou re-occupancy of previously disturbed areas. o Socio-economic effects are identified and communicated. ECON-02 o Include Indigenous knowledge to identify area. IND-04, o Identify core habitat for migration and lifecycles processes (e.g. rearing, during 05 winter, etc.).  Assess this approach every 5 years, in alignment with the plan review. MSP-01, o This approach is not intended to be in place permanently. 06  New industrial development and significant occupancy areas are not expected to be in IM-03 conflict over the next 5 years. o If this conflict is unavoidable (e.g. power production, aggregates, rail, etc.) in specific areas, best practices to minimize and mitigate impacts will be applied on a micro and macro basis.  Allow for some opportunities on a case-by-case, site-specific, basis under specific mitigations. o Identify criteria to enable some restoration or maintenance work to proceed.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 21 14. Prioritization of restoration based upon caribou occupancy, connectivity of biophysical habitat, and trajectory towards reaching the sub-regional undisturbed caribou habitat objectives

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Coordinating a large-scale program to restoration increases efficiencies, reduces costs,  Optimize buffers to maximize the benefits of restoration, and use linear disturbance CAR-01, and ensures long-term protection of habitat. assessments to prioritize restoration, by incorporating:  There are existing federal programs that could provide funding for reclamation activities o Previous work by stakeholders (e.g. FRIAA & Dene Tha’ First Nation); 02, 03, 04, that should be leveraged. o Caribou collar data and high value caribou habitat (unoccupied and occupied); 05, 06, 07,  Re-establishing tree cover on legacy seismic lines increases the amount of intact habitat o Input from local stakeholders, including First Nations, Métis, and trappers; 08, 09, 10, . Use Indigenous knowledge to determine where restoration should take more than any other management tool. 11  Linear footprint is the main reason for caribou population decline, therefore the primary place; elders can validate and compare against telemetry points. long-term strategy for population recovery. o The potential use of anthropogenic disturbance for other fire-related goals (e.g. IM-01, 02,  Restoration provides the highest return on investment, with respect to population firebreaks, prescribed burns, buffer around development); and 03, 04 o recovery. The most current, best available knowledge (e.g. Saskatchewan research in EFM-01, white-tail deer, and work done by industry).  Access management planning is considered within restoration planning throughout the 02, 03, 04, sub-region. 07 o Coordinated approach (even on permitting) among ministries and industry. MSP-01  Structure the funding arrangement over time between various partners (i.e. industry, ECON-01, federal and provincial governments) to ensure long-term sustainability.  Monitor restoration for effectiveness, and develop monitoring protocols on wolf travel (as 11 a focus) and vegetation assessment/inventories. COMM-04  Have a decision framework that identifies where treatments are considered appropriate. o Apply site-specific and alternative treatments to disturbance (e.g. mounding, roll back, bend and break), where appropriate.  If industrial operators and tenure holders are already doing reclamation work in the area, any opportunities to align with larger restoration program should be assessed. o Forestry companies are encouraged to reforest legacy linear footprint within harvest blocks. o Forestry companies are encouraged to partner on reforesting legacy linear footprint adjacent to harvest blocks. o Provide incentive for companies to complete restoration when aligned with priority areas.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 22 15. Expand collaboration and effort towards improving restoration and reforestation techniques

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Develops the most site specific and innovative way to do restoration.  Potential improvements in restoration and reforestation techniques that could help  Reduces costs and improves success of restoration efforts. determine the appropriate site-specific treatment for the area include: o Controlled burning as a restoration tool to address soil impacts; o Functional restoration practices (e.g. reducing line of sight for humans or predator movement speed); o Lichen seeding, although food limitation is not a current issue for caribou in this region; o Mounding and roll-back techniques; and o Current efforts by Canadian Oil Sands Industry Alliance (COSIA) and Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA).  Indigenous knowledge is available through collaboration with First Nations and Métis.  Techniques should be assessed for effectiveness, in order to build on existing techniques and lessons learned going forward.

16. Government of Alberta will lead a provincial restoration program

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Restoration is the key to caribou habitat and population recovery in ranges with high  Identify and increase the distribution and amount of intact biophysical habitat through CAR-04 levels of disturbance, such as the Bistcho range. space and time to increase caribou populations.  Coordinated restoration is more effective and efficient, and can afford protection to o Allow regrowth or restored areas to reach the 80 year mark. restoration areas in the long term.  Prioritize the restoration of linear disturbance based on the identification of priority caribou areas. o Use indigenous knowledge and datasets to identify priority areas.  Guided by a committee that includes indigenous, industry, stakeholders, third-party restoration agent, and cross-ministry participation.  Contributions from within the area leads to restoration work being available in the area.  Incorporate and coordinate restoration with the concepts of: o Integrated land management; o Access management; o Forest harvesting; o Area-based approach (i.e. important areas); and o Access requirements for restoration activity.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 23 17. Urge the Government of Alberta to create a process that includes the evaluation of crown surface land sales in the region on the sub-regional plan

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Creates an open and transparent process that everyone knows about that considers all  Develop or improve the provincial process on how to transfer/convert green zone to white ECON-02, uses and diverse perspectives of the landscape. zone through a more transparent process that engages and informs stakeholders.  If it happens, all relevant parties should be involved, pro-actively, in the decision-making o Identify who needs to be involved or consulted in the broader public, particularly 03, 04, 09 ahead of time. those potentially affected. IND-01  The outcome currently puts economic land users in a hard spot later on without early . Including communities, trappers (if overlapping traplines), and other COMM- tenure holders (e.g. wood supply). discussions. 02, 03, 04,  Ensures the transfer of lands does not happen without consultation of indigenous o Develop a process to consult with impacted and interested people. peoples and transparency.  Assess for impact on various uses, including economic values. 05, 06  Any conversion of public crown land to fee-simple should trigger a deep level of Indigenous consultation (i.e. early engagement and planning) and accommodation. o Including free, prior, and informed consent and negotiation (between the crown and those potentially affected) that occurs before decisions are made.

18. Using Integrated Land Management (ILM), the sub-regional plan identifies suitable, sufficient, and preferred areas for Indigenous rights, conservation, recreation and economic development over time and space

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 The Task Force recognizes that all activities can’t occur in the same place at the same  ILM is an approach that should be used across the sub-region and within zones. COMM- time. o Include this approach in the cost-benefit analysis.  Caribou need intact habitat with disturbance thresholds.  Identify lands to provide for a diversity of opportunity, including: 01, 02, 03,  Provides certainty to where, when, and what activities can take place in areas. o Prioritizing future disturbance areas; and 04, 05, 06,  To assist in restoration planning and land-use planning in the sub-region. o Areas that are managed to minimize or prevent new land disturbance. 07, 08  Identification of priority areas based on market and non-market uses and values. ECON-01, o The sequencing for forestry and best estimates for occupancy of oil and gas. . Includes flexibility for different industries’ requirements. 02, 03, 04, o Priority caribou areas. 05, 06, 07, o Traditional use studies and Indigenous knowledge. 08, 09, 10 . Suitable and sufficient, traditional resources and values, in preferred sites and areas, that are required for the meaningful exercise of IND-01, Aboriginal and Treaty rights -based activities. 03, 03, 04, . Involve indigenous community (e.g. guardian program) in development 05, 06, 07 and management of boundary. o Recreation, tourism and trapping requirements and impacts are considered. o Access plans (RAMP), multi-use corridors (e.g. Rail), other corridors, industry interests, and Métis harvesting are considered.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 24  GoA to develop a mechanism to support capacity for indigenous participation in planning processes.  Planning processes should be cognisant of costs, with a focus on local engagement.

19. Management of current protected areas in the region must be revisited and improved

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 To achieve local buy-in, the current management plans and implementation of the plans  Management of existing protected areas needs to be inclusive and integrate existing EFM-05 needs to be revisited. users’ input, including providing opportunities for community science to inform the  There is a long history of the management of conservation areas not being implemented management direction. fully, and it needs to be done differently going forward.  Areas that should be revised include Hay-Zama Wildland Provincial Park and Caribou  To ensure that we have healthy landscapes, management plans need to be in place that Mountains Wildland Provincial Park. include local input and results in implementation.  Current Wildland Provincial Park management approach needs to consider the risk of infection from the bison population in Wood Buffalo National Park.  Improved partnership between the provincial and federal governments to engage stakeholders on bison management on the western boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park.

20. Evaluate current energy tenure system and process within sub-region to identify any need for changes to protect caribou habitat and provide industry certainty and predictability

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Provides certainty and predictability of regulation for land users and investors to avoid  Needs an innovative approach for oil and gas to enhance ILM. ECON-01, changing the rules. o Assess approaches such as development agreements, podding, grouping, and  Make process transparent, everyone understands and consistently follows the same time frames to consolidating footprint and activities. 04, 09, 11 process.  Integrate tenure considerations to support the management of access and roads in the COMM-08  Attempts to mitigate or accommodate the competing interests and values on the RAMP (i.e. differences between sharing roads and building individual roads). landscape by identifying potential conflicts at earliest stage. o Include road lease for recreational purposes.  Effective for caribou conservation by reducing footprint.  Streamlined process to allow municipality to receive transferred roads (from industry);  Allows access to areas of high economic value. current system doesn’t meet municipal or sub-regional needs.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 25 21. Review and evaluate current surface and sub-surface restrictions against intended outcomes of habitat recovery and socio-economic considerations

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 To provide diversity of socio-economic opportunities for communities and industry.  Oil and gas, coal and metallic and industrial minerals tenure sales, will resume upon COMM-  Avoids any potential access difficulties with other tools or designations. completion of a sub-regional plan. The evaluation of the sale will be made using the 06, 08, 09  Deferring actions on the landscape, or minimizing anthropogenic effects, provides following criteria: benefits to caribou. 1. Current level of disturbance; ECON-01,  Refer to direction provided within information letter (IL) 2016-34 and IL 2018-14. 2. Expected lifespan on existing disturbance; 02, 03, 04, 3. Expected lifespan of proposed disturbance; 05, 06, 07, 4. The project level and type of disturbances to develop resources; and 5. Caribou habitat and population health information. 08, 09, 10,  Restrictions can be used as a tool, on a case-by-case basis, to assist conservation 11 values and facilitate economic activities. o Useful in a targeted way to protect specific sites (e.g. the meadows), with flexibility to adapt. o Applied where there’s critical caribou habitat. o Used to open any currently closed area, where appropriate.  Use appropriate datasets, in consultation with First Nations, Métis, industry, public, and hamlets (i.e. Zama) to identify interests before tenure is given. o First Nations, Métis, and trappers should be involved in identifying critical values (e.g. natural springs, berry patches, mineral licks and cabin sites). o Recognize unique knowledge of First Nations, Métis, and trappers.  Identify activities that will be permitted. o Consider exemption for First Nations, Métis, and trappers. o Limited recreation access.  Protective and consultative notations designations are considered and potentially updated based on the sub-regional plan.

22. Current oil and gas tenure extensions be reviewed and further extended where necessary due to the delay in caribou and sub-regional planning

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 High volume of tenure, expiring in one year, could lead to disorderly development and  Extensions were voluntary to allow GoA time to plan and create certainty to industry, high footprint. though planning remains incomplete.  Information Letter 2020-20 addresses this recommendation, unless further delays to sub- regional planning occur.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 26 23. Explore the option of conservation areas (for example Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas) in the Bistcho Lake area

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Increases First Nation and Métis involvement in the stewardship of lands and  Use the three criteria from the Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) report for the ECON-02, transference of knowledge. establishment of the Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA): 03, 04  Conservation areas would be a long-term commitment to conservation that can provide o Indigenous-led; support to multiple species and contribute to satisfying objectives in recovery strategies o Long-term commitment to conservation; and IND-01, for at risk species. o Elevate Indigenous rights and responsibilities. 02, 03, 04,  Suitable and sufficient, traditional resources and values, in preferred sites and areas, that  Transparent, multi-stakeholder processes lead to greater acceptance. 05, 06, 07 are required for the meaningful exercise of Indigenous, Aboriginal and Treaty rights-  The Task Force recognizes that existing policies and regulations weren’t developed with based activities. focused consideration of Caribou outcomes. Therefore, multi-stakeholder planning and associated conservation and management areas should be developed to support multi-  Includes areas or zones with different management intents to help prioritize activities. species and Caribou outcomes. o Core conservation zones (including habitat for caribou and other species). o Culturally sensitive areas. o Areas with economic or recreational activities. o Use existing analyses to assist in identifying potential areas for these zones (e.g. CPAWS conservation analyses and Indigenous traditional use studies).  Cooperative management intent for the area includes: o Elders, harvesters, and others having involvement in the stewardship of the area; and o Multi-stakeholder advisory group, including local communities, which will: . Establish a Terms of Reference; . Establish an adaptive management process; and . Be completed within a reasonable timeline.  Public participation and community engagement is encouraged and facilitated.  Explore opportunities for collaborative local guardian program to contribute to recreation and tourism programs.  Long-term, stable funding mechanism is necessary for the implementation of the management intent and guardian program.  Potential tool to implement a conservation area is a Conservation Directive in the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA).  Corridors are identified or permitted within the area to enable coordinated routes for access, railroads, pipelines, fire response, etc. o Maintenance and funding considerations for access routes should be assessed over the long term. o Location of corridors should be determined based on minimizing impact on caribou and Indigenous cultural values. . Input from local Indigenous knowledge holders must be incorporated.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 27  Using an adaptive management approach, consider adjustments to boundaries over time if that would better support the primary goals of the conservation area.

24. To ensure caribou persistence on the landscape while restoring caribou habitat, a diverse toolkit will be required. If needed, the Task Force recommends that the Government of Alberta consider using a number of population-focused tools, with the understanding that such tools and strategies shall not impact the exercise of Constitutionally protected rights of Aboriginal peoples, including: 1. Timing restrictions on human activity for when caribou are most sensitive/vulnerable 2. Predator management, if necessary 3. Evaluating caribou strategies for their potential impact on other at risk or culturally significant species and ways of mitigating any negative effects 4. Exploring ways to deal with special, acute events Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Population measures may be required to accelerate caribou population recovery. Potential tools to ensure caribou persistence include: CAR-10  Timing restrictions decrease disturbances at most energetically costly time of year. 1. Timing restrictions on human activity for when caribou are most sensitive/vulnerable; MSP-08  Enables the evaluation of impacts to the ecosystem. o During energetically costly times of year, such as calving from January to May.  Ensures actions within the sub-regional plan does not adversely affect First Nation and o Oil and gas already have restrictions, consider the overlap. Métis lifestyle and culture. o First Nation, Métis, trappers, and subsistence living need exception.  Creates a plan that achieves species at risk requirements of other species and culturally o Includes decreased backcountry and recreation access (e.g. ski-doo trails). sensitive species. . Assess the implications on local tourism (e.g. ice fishing at Bistcho  In normal times food for caribou is not an issue, although that may change during fire and Lake). ice events. 2. Predator management;  Active trapping can assist with population measures. o Increased wolf populations may be managed towards levels that enable caribou population persistence, if necessary. . Predator management is a controversial approach and is not considered appropriate or necessary at this time. o Evaluate the impacts of other predators, not just wolves. o Eliminate the use of poison in predator control. 3. Evaluating caribou strategies for their potential impact on other at risk or culturally significant species, including methods to mitigate any negative effects; and o Strategies could have an unintended consequence on cultural or subsistence hunting, including on other species such as moose or bison. 4. Exploring ways to deal with special, acute events for intervention. o Feeding programs during fire and ice events is an example.  Involvement of stakeholders in the evaluation and implementation of the tools mentioned above. o Support local predator management and implement wolf reduction, if required, and monitoring to enable caribou conservation. . Use other methods, such as hunting, trapping, and licenses.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 28 o Use the best science and local, indigenous knowledge to identify rearing facility location and culturally significant species. o A potential guardian program to be considered to help with population stabilization and recovery mechanisms.

25. Evaluate forest management plans against outcomes identified for the sub-region using forest management planning evaluation matrices, for example, where appropriate

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Forest Management Plans enable the evaluation of current and future forest condition,  Forest management practices incorporate continual improvement. IND-01 relative to the historical forest condition.  Consideration to alignment with third party, internationally-recognized, certifications and  There are established forest management evaluation processes and principles of standards (e.g. Forest Stewardship Council Standards, Canadian Standards Association, evaluation and reporting that could be considered and leveraged where appropriate. or Sustainable Forestry Initiative, etc.).  Values, objectives, indicators and targets can be used to report on plan progress and  Needs to include forest management considerations for fire risk. contribute to continual improvements towards addressing identified outcomes in the sub-  Align restoration efforts and coordinate timing with forest harvesting operations. regional plan.  Include tools, strategies, modelling, and principles outlined in the Forest Management Planning Standard around the following values: o Indigenous values; o Community stability; o Future climatic conditions; o Natural range of variation; o Biophysical values; o Caribou values; o Multiple species; o Hydrological values; o Carbon cycles; and o Soil condition.  Other industrial footprint (e.g. oil and gas, aggregates, etc.) and protected areas are dealt with separately, but are coordinated through the integrated land management approach.  This is an important evaluation for the sub-regional plan, but not the only one.  Forest management plans receive direction from acts or regulations, if those change, forest management plans will change as well.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 29 26. Areas are identified which are sufficient, suitable and preferred for traditional and community uses

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Areas that are identified contribute inputs into planning.  Suitable and sufficient, traditional resources and values, in preferred sites and areas, that IND-01,  Aboriginal and Treaty rights are constitutionally protected. are required for the meaningful exercise of Aboriginal and Treaty rights -based activities. 02, 03, 04,  Sufficient, suitable, and preferred areas helps support food security. o Suitable (i.e.: healthy and acceptable qualities).  Supports aboriginal, and treaty rights-based activities. o Sufficient (i.e.: as much as is needed and readily accessible for a particular 05 purpose, in configurations and amounts that correspond to the dietary and ECON-01, cultural needs of harvesters and communities). 02 o Traditional Resources and Values (i.e.: clean water, land, and air; fire; living and non-living things; and especially, traditional knowledge, constructions and implements for harvesting). o Preferred sites and areas (i.e.: distinctive, superior, priority, and subjectively chosen over others). o Indigenous, Aboriginal and Treaty rights -based Activities (i.e.: hunting, trapping, fishing, plant and medicinal gathering, and other activities incidental in support of these).

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 30 27. Employ ecologically-based forest management that emulates natural disturbances where appropriate

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Activities occur within ecological limits (e.g. carbon cycles, hydrology functions, etc.) to  Manage landscapes to allow for old growth over 90 years. EFM-02, lessen the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on landscape, while supporting  Coordinate the development and reclamation of activities on the landscape. 06, 09 community, economy, and habitat outcomes.  Although there are spatial similarities between natural disturbances and forestry activity,  Recognizes the unique and valuable knowledge that First Nations, Métis, and trappers’ there are differences in chemical processes and impacts on caribou. IM-02, 04 communities in the area add to the ability to evaluate plans.  Develop a natural range of variation of the sub-region’s pre-industrial and present CAR-01,  Establishing a natural range of variation could help with establishing plans and policies to conditions of forests. 04, 05, 08 improve forest resilience, reduce fire risks, and manage the landscape to natural o Substantially complete for F26, although requires resources to be completed for conditions. F20. MSP-02,  Guidance suggests that aggregated forestry within the natural range of variation supports o Incorporate science, Indigenous knowledge, and local knowledge. 05, 06, 07 caribou recovery and multi-species through landscape variation of habitat patch size. o Incorporate the potential effects of climate change. IND-02,  Monitoring unanticipated or incidental effects is important because of enhanced edge  GoA to explore aggregated forest harvest with indigenous and local communities to ECON-01, effects around very large aggregate cut blocks that may lead to wildlife avoidance of in- support caribou outcomes. block areas and intensified use of block perimeter linear disturbances and wildlife trails, o Future forest harvesting will focus on localizing forestry activities to minimize the 04, 11 leading to increased predator efficiency and adaptation that results in increased short or overall extent of forestry-related disturbance. COMM- mid-term caribou population decline, in exchange for long-term habitat restoration. o The extent and rate of harvesting over time will be assessed to ensure there are 01, 02  Monitoring and research, as well as learnings from other jurisdictions, may help answer no significant negative implications for caribou biophysical habitat based on the what the ability is of the harvested forest area to eventually support caribou populations. long-term assessments.  Strengthens or reinforces the diversity and resiliency of species. o Consider the natural range of variation as a tool or to provide guidance for  GoA to explore aggregated harvest with communities because aggregated harvest implementation. planning is a strategic decision and Government Directive that requires 'Big C' o Harvest location will avoid areas of high caribou occupancy during the first 10 consultation. year period. o This is a government decision at the sub-regional plan level, not a regulatory o Plan aspires to maintain existing harvest levels in current license areas while approval decision that forestry companies should be required to consult with First achieving caribou outcomes. Nations on. o GoA-led consultation on aggregated forest harvest implementation. o GoA should lead proactive communication on the concept of aggregation with First Nations, local communities and stakeholders to meaningfully discuss and evaluate potential opportunities and concerns, in consideration of: . First Nations, Métis and trappers’ traplines (particularly smaller traplines); . Caribou occupancy; and . Being aware of other implications to watersheds, or other species in the sub-region. o Aggregated harvest will effect traplines, adaptive management will need to occur based on monitoring to support caribou outcomes; including reporting.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 31 . Rationale for this new approach needs to be broadly communicated, while providing education around, as being required to address the requirements within recovery strategy.  First Nations and Métis knowledge holders (past and present) should be involved in evaluating how well managed forests mimic natural conditions, including: o Monitoring, and possibly responding to, recovery strategy implementation to ensure that there are not any new unanticipated or incidental threats to caribou populations as a result from strategies being implemented within caribou range; o Assessing if biophysical indicators fall within a certain range using Indigenous knowledge and western science; and o Exploring if and how prescribed burns may be used a tool to achieve desired forest conditions.

28. Pipeline operators recognize that while pipeline rights-of-way (ROW) require at a minimum, a 10m opening for operational, maintenance and emergency access, operators will consider strategies for access management and reducing movement along the ROWs where it does not impact safe operation of the pipeline

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 Allows for reduced human line of sight and access along the ROW, which in turn reduces  Sub-regional Access Management Plans should take into account multi-use corridors ECON-01, predator access to important caribou areas. that include pipeline ROWs. o Example of best practices includes roll back or mounding. o Pipeline ROWs support multi-use corridors for fire management. 09, 10  The intent and spirit of the recommendation is to more efficiently manage disturbance for  It is important to reduce human and predator access to ROW to help sustain or improve EFM-03 caribou along pipeline right-of-ways. caribou populations. IM-01, 02 o Access should be enabled for land users through the reduced right-of-way.  Allows for safe operation of the pipeline and alignment with CSA operating regulatory COMM- requirements for:  These best management practices would be implemented within caribou ranges; outside o Alignment with CSA Z662 and maintaining line of sight, brushing over the of caribou ranges would be managed differently for different circumstances that reflect 07, 08 centerline allows for a visual on potential impacts to the safe operation of the costs. IND-06 pipe, potential leaks (along with other leak detection  Best management practices should be coordinated with, and evaluated against, the CAR-04 methodologies/technologies); and identification of suitable, sufficient, and preferred areas for Indigenous rights, o Maintaining low brush allows for in-line inspection (ILI) runs with the conservation, recreation and economic development over time and space. aboveground monitor that follows along the pipe aboveground and full closed interval surveys.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 32 29. Government of Alberta shall explore and support both collaborative and locally-led recreation and commercial tourism activities

Rationale Considerations Outcomes

 High impact, high volume tourism and recreation is undesirable in the sub-region; local,  Ensure current regulations enable tourism operators to expand and upgrade existing COMM- low-impact ecotourism and recreation is preferred. facilities.  Access is the most important aspect of land use for any recreational user, and public  Ensure recreational tenure (i.e. 60 year recreational tenure) extends to municipalities. 01, 02, 03, access is likely to be reduced after oil and gas operators undertake reclamation.  Include road lease for recreational purposes. 04, 05  Commercial activities help guide or facilitate recreation and tourism to mitigate random  Motorized activities (e.g. snowmobile or ATV rallies) around communities should occur ECON-01, camping or other activities. on recognized/designated trails or existing footprint. 05, 06, 07,  Trapping associations (i.e. Treaty 8 and Alberta Trappers Associations) are currently  Recreation and commercial tourism activities should be coordinated with, and evaluated 08, 09 , allowed to facilitate education, although individual trappers and Indigenous peoples are against, the identification of suitable, sufficient, and preferred areas for Indigenous rights, not; neither can undertake recreation and tourism activities. conservation, recreation and economic development over time and space. 10, 11  There is currently insufficient levels of official presence for compliance and enforcement  Identify an optimized access network within existing disturbance to enable access for CAR-03 of existing rules within the sub-region. hunting, trapping, and outfitting. MSP-01  When highway closures occur, alternate routes become important corridors. EFM-04 o Access route between Zama and Chateh should be identified as critical access. IM-01, 02,  Areas of interest for low-impact ecotourism around population centres or unique landscape features include Chateh (not including park), Zama, Steen River, Indian 03 Cabins, Bistcho Lake, and Crater. o Leverage existing campgrounds and rest areas around Zama and Steen River.  Recreational tourism economic opportunities around Hay-Zama WPP (e.g. recreational or outfitting activities). o Area of interest for recreation (e.g. picnic tables, lookouts, memorials, etc.) on the west side of Chateh road, access by the cell phone tower.  Explore collaborative opportunities for trappers associations, outfitters, local communities, and Indigenous people to support and share the traditional way of life through recreation, tourism, and education. o This may be currently in conflict with regulations under the Wildlife Act, if money is involved.  Historic and cultural sites should be identified throughout the sub-region to encourage collaboration and growth. o Leverage ongoing work (e.g. traditional use mapping and Mackenzie Frontier).  Wagon trail between Hay-Zama and Meander River communities on the left bank of the Hay River should be identified and improved. o Tourism opportunities could include guided, cultural tours along trails or rivers.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 33 o Wagon trail is a resource with significant historical and cultural value, which could result in tourism opportunities. o Also identify the wagon trail north along the Hay River (adjacent to Highway 35). o Access for recreational hunting could lead to the potential for increased competition for traditional resources. . Intent is to maintain the viability of country food security in response to potential increased recreational hunting access. . Guardians can help monitor activity along the wagon trails for compliance on recreation, tourism and commercial activities.  There should be a sufficient official presence in sub-region regularly ensuring compliance and enforcement of rules and regulations in place for existing and new recreation, tourism and commercial activities.  Ensure that such activities do not adversely impact current and future exercise of constitutionally protected rights of Aboriginal peoples.  Municipalities need to be engaged when these activities or initiatives are undertaken on the landscape.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 34 APPENDIX A - Outcomes

Communities (Work, Live, Play)

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

COMM-01 Our communities are places where people want to work, live and play Yes

COMM-02 Communities thrive and prosper through a diversity of opportunities Yes

COMM-03 There are sustainable opportunities for enhancing quality of life Yes

COMM-04 The sub-regional plan is broadly supported Yes

COMM-05 Community values and interests are supported Yes

Resilient communities are developed through responsive and sustainable COMM-06 Yes plans

Planning processes and management actions allow for changing context and COMM-07 Yes potential opportunities

Processes are in place that honestly reflect the socio-economic interests and COMM-08 Yes opportunities of communities

Social, Indigenous, and Market Economies

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

We have a working landscape that is adaptive and supports social, ECON-01 Yes indigenous and market economies

Opportunities for social and indigenous economies are maintained, ECON-02 Yes enhanced, and available

ECON-03 Regulations support a bartering/trading economy Yes

Opportunities for resource based economies (1) are enhanced, maintained, ECON-04 Yes and available

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 35 ECON-05 Opportunities for tourism are enhanced, maintained, and available Yes

ECON-06 Opportunities for commercial fishing are made available No

Opportunities for commercial outfitting are enhanced, maintained, and ECON-07 Yes available

ECON-08 Opportunities for recreation are enhanced, maintained, and available Yes

Access to support social, indigenous and market economies is maintained ECON-09 Yes and available

Infrastructure is available to support social, indigenous and market ECON-10 Yes economies

Regulatory processes are predictable, timely, adequate, and sufficient and ECON-11 Yes efficient

Indigenous

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

Aboriginal section 35 rights, values, and traditional economies are respected IND-01 Yes and supported

IND-02 In the future, the land is healthy and supports indigenous traditional use Yes

Species populations of importance to Indigenous people are maintained to IND-03 Yes support indigenous traditional use

IND-04 Spiritual places and cultural sites are protected Yes

IND-05 Indigenous people have adequate places to practice (exercise) their rights Yes

IND-06 Indigenous people can access places to practice their rights Yes

IND-07 There are places where Indigenous use is prioritized Yes

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 36 Caribou

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

CAR-01 Naturally self-sustaining caribou populations are maintained in the landscape Yes

CAR-02 There is sufficient biophysical habitat Yes

CAR-03 Key caribou habitat is identified, maintained and restored Yes

Policies and plans support sufficient biophysical habitat and responsible CAR-04 Yes development

Short, medium, and long term strategies are implemented with an adaptive CAR-05 Yes management approach

Research, monitoring and data management supports adaptive management CAR-06 Yes in the region

CAR-07 Research, monitoring and data management is coordinated among agencies Yes

Local stakeholders and indigenous people are involved in research and CAR-08 Yes monitoring

CAR-09 Indigenous knowledge informs adaptive management Yes

Using short and medium term interim strategies, caribou are sustained on CAR-10 Yes landscape until there is sufficient biophysical habitat

CAR-11 Interim strategies are supported by the public Yes

Multi-Species

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

Naturally self-sustaining multi-species and ecosystems are maintained and/or MSP-01 Yes restored

An adaptive management approach is used that takes into account time and MSP-02 Yes space as the land changes

MSP-03 Indigenous knowledge informs adaptive management Yes

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 37 Research, monitoring, and data management supports adaptive MSP-04 Yes management

MSP-05 Research, monitoring, and data management is coordinated among agencies Yes

Local stakeholders and Indigenous people are involved in research and, MSP-06 Yes monitoring

MSP-07 Integrated management plans incorporate considerations for multi-species Yes

MSP-08 Culturally and locally important species are identified and considered Yes

Effective Forest Management

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

Effective forest management protects communities, supports local EFM-01 Yes economies, and manages for the full suite of natural habitat

EFM-02 Forests are healthy, resilient and fire resistant Yes

EFM-03 There is effective wildfire management so that wildfire risk is reduced Yes

Existing human disturbances are strategically integrated into a fire protection EFM-04 Yes plan

EFM-05 Critical values are protected from wildfire Yes

EFM-06 Managed forests mimic natural conditions Yes

Fire management planning reduces adverse effects for communities, wildlife, EFM-07 Yes and resource extraction

EFM-08 Fire that supports caribou and other species is considered Yes

Plans, policies and management are adaptive to natural disturbances and EFM-09 Yes changing conditions

Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) sustainable forest management EFM-10 Yes principles are achieved

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 38 Integrated Management

Outcome Outcome Consensus Code

Integrated management and coordination supports the achievement of IM-01 Yes environmental, social and economic objectives

Creation and restoration of human disturbances on the landscape is IM-02 Yes coordinated

The plan and plan implementation are supported by inter-ministry IM-03 Yes coordination

IM-04 People work together in an integrated approach Yes

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 39 APPENDIX B – Consensus Model

The Task Force employed a six level consensus model to facilitate their discussions for their decision making process.

In this approach, members are not simply for or against a decision, but have the option to situate themselves on a scale that lets them express their individual option more clearly.

1. Full support

2. Acceptable

3. Support with reservations

4. I am not thrilled with it, but I can live with it and will not block it

5. Need more information or more discussion (non-consensus)

6. Cannot support it and cannot accept it (non-consensus)

If all members are at level #4 or above (3, 2 or 1), then by definition, consensus has been reached. If someone is at level, 2, 3 or 4, they have the option of explaining their reservations, and the group can address these, if they wish. While not necessary, as consensus is already achieved, this additional information usually improves the recommendation.

If a members is at level 5, they have the obligation to explain what information or discussion they require from the group. If a member is at level 6, they have the obligation to offer a solution that can accommodate their needs and the needs of the rest of the group.

This models facilitates defining key issues underlying non-consensus and aids in focusing the discussion and in finding solutions. Where consensus was not possible in the Task Force’s decisions on recommendations, the dissenting organization and rationale for the non-consensus are provided.

Northwest Caribou Sub-regional Task Force | Recommendation Report 40