۴ý

Skip to main content

Yukon, Canada announce agreement to advance nature conservation and protection

Share
MONTREAL -

The Yukon and federal governments have signed a new agreement to advance nature conservation and protection across the territory.

The governments announced the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement on Wednesday at the COP15 global biodiversity talks in Montreal.

They say it's the first of its kind in Canada.

The agreement aims to support Indigenous leadership in conservation and support recovery of at-risk species like the north mountain caribou and grizzly bears.

It has set a target to protect or conserve an additional six per cent of Yukon's wilderness to reach 25 per cent by 2025.

The Canadian government has pledged to invest $20.6 million to implement the agreement.

"The Yukon is on the front lines of climate change and nature conservation. Our northern way of life depends on the land, and protection of the land is in our hands," Yukon Liberal member of Parliament Brendan Hanley said in a statement. "The Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement marks a new chapter in the protection and conservation of the North and all the abundant life it supports."

The territory says it has already conserved about 19 per cent of its area.

The federal government has committed to conserve 25 per cent of land and water across Canada by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030.

"The Government of Canada is taking bold action to protect the natural environment that is our best ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss," federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a statement. "Together with the Government of Yukon, we're protecting more sensitive habitats, supporting the recovery of species at risk, and restoring ecosystems across the territory."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2022.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.

A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Local Spotlight

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that – and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.