Draft Grizzly Bear Conservation Plan Released

Thursday, 23 August 2018 11:04

(left to right) Graham Van Tighem, executive director of YFWMB, Thomas Jung, Senior Wildlife Biologist at Yukon Department of Environment, and Tyler Kuhn, biologist with the Yukon Government

The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board released the draft conservation plan for grizzly bears on August 22.

A draft 25 year-long grizzly bear conservation plan was released on behalf of the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board on Wednesday afternoon.

Graham Van Tighem, executive director of the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, Thomas Jung, Senior Wildlife Biologist at Yukon Department of Environment, and Tyler Kuhn, a biologist with the Yukon Government all were at the conference.

Seven goals were also mentioned in the report, including fostering connection and increased respect to grizzly bears, taking care of the land and minimizing human-grizzly conflicts, ensuring harvest of grizzly bears are sustainable and respectful, and respecting grizzly bear viewing and better understanding human dimensions of grizzly bear conservation.

Jung noted why the report came about.

"It was seen that we had a lot of regulatory proposals put forth for grizzly bears without really having a framework to rely on in terms of the overall vision or strategy for grizzly bears...The second reason why we began a process for grizzly bear planning was back in 2012 when a committee called The Committee on the Status of Endangers Wildlife in Canada assessed grizzly bears as a species of special concern."

While there also was discussion regarding timelines for certain objectives listed in the draft, Jung noted that certain regulations around cultural connections to grizzly bear habitat for First Nations could take much longer in comparison to numerical quotas like limitations on grizzly bear harvesting allowed per year.

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Whitehorse Emergency Shelter Sees Another Tragic Death, Family Demands Answers

Bailey's biological father also died at the shelter in 2021, and she claims that the shelter's staff provided conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the death of her Step father.
Yukon Risks Blackouts This Winter as Hydro Power Plant Undergoes Repairs

The Aishihik turbine was critically damaged in October, and repair work is not expected to be completed until spring.
Yukon government accused of budgeting interference

Letters from three independent officers of the assembly question Management Board for changing budgets after approval.
Liard First Nation chief has lost confidence, been suspended by his community

LFN citizens who attended a public meeting Tuesday in Watson Lake overwhelmingly sided with the Deputy Chief and Council members who drafted a resolution to have Chief Stephen Charlie suspended from his duties
Liard First Nation Employees Fired After Advocating for Change

Emeral Poppe and Diana Lee Jimmy have been vocal advocates for change within Liard First Nation, raising concerns over transparency.
YFNED kicks off fifth-annual winter hamper program

"We try to support local as much as we can." - YFNED Acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley
Broken generator at Aishihik Generating Station puts pressure on the Yukon's electricity grid

The 12-megawatt generator failed due to a part malfunction, according to the Yukon Energy Corporation
Intergovernmental Forum takes place in Ottawa - not Yukon - for second year running

Forum discussed collaborative approaches to funding the implementation of Final and Self-Government Agreements.
Suspected contamination at the abandoned Wolverine Mine: Yukon government

The Yukon government has been addressing water treatment issues at the site since the mine's abandonment in 2015
Food For Fines Campaign Returns to Whitehors

Eligible tickets include: Expired parking meter fines, and Two-hour zone fines.
Yukon First Nations leadership and Yukon government leadership meet for 30th Yukon Forum

This was the third Yukon Forum of 2024. The last will be the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa in December.
Shot in the Dark Productions premiered two films at the Yukon Arts Centre

Shot in the Dark Productions believes puppets can captivate both children and adults, conveying important environmental science themes through entertainment.
Former Connective staff acquitted of sexual assault and exploitation charges

Judge Gurmail Gill found Omale not guilty due to inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony and lack of forensic evidence.
Whitehorse RCMP officers to start using body-worn cameras

The Yukon RCMP adopts body-worn cameras to bolster trust, accountability, and transparency in its community services
Whitehorse Community Thrift Store volunteers stop work following store manager's termination by its board of directors.

Thrift store society founder Karen Weinberg says the manager was fired for raising safety concerns.
Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin, Yukon NDP blast Yukon government for delays in Dawson Regional Land Use Plan

“Every day this plan doesn’t get done is another day of status quo for the mining industry. It’s starting to feel like this is by design.” - Yukon NDP Leader Kate White
Newly elected Whitehorse Mayor and Council sworn into office

Mayor Kirk Cameron and Councillors Anne Middler, Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Eileen Melynchuk, Jenny Hamilton, and Paolo Gallina have taken their oaths of office.
2024 Yukon River fall chum salmon run records dismal numbers

The Porcupine River revealed alarmingly low numbers, with 16,275 and 8,368 fish recorded
Trial of Former Connective residential support worker accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable client commenced in Whitehorse territorial court on Monday.

Omale, 38 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability stemming from September 2023.
Whitehorse residents join Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's Actions for Accountability Rally

Dozens of people marked Poverty and Homelessness Accountability week with a walk to the Jim Smith building, where the mother of a homeless man spent the night camping in the parking lot.