Canada's Government Announces Protection for Arctic Wildlife Sanctuaries

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Aug 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
Canada's Environment Minister John Baird, and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Acting President, James Eetoolook, today announced the establishment of
three new National Wildlife Areas on and around Baffin Island, protecting
local species and habitat including the bowhead whale.

The Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement for National Wildlife Areas and
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in the Nunavut Settlement Area, was negotiated
between the Government of Canada, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., three Regional
Inuit Associations and the Nangmautaq Hunters and Trappers organization.
The agreement allows for the creation of three new National Wildlife
Areas on and around Baffin Island to protect local species and habitat.
Under the agreement, Canada's Government is committing $8.3 million.

"Prime Minister Harper and our Government are delivering real results
that will benefit not only our environment in the Arctic, but the people
who live there," said Minister Baird. "This is a real demonstration of
our commitment to protect our species and their incredible habitat in the
North."

The Niginganiq (nee geen ga nik) National Wildlife Area (Isabella Bay) is
internationally recognized for providing key bowhead whale habitat, and
the Akpait (ak pa eet) and Qaqulluit (ka koo loo eet) National Wildlife
Areas near Qikiqtarjuaq (kick-ih-TAR-jew-ack) (Broughton Island) are
known for housing significant populations of seabirds including one of
Canada's largest Thick-billed Murre colonies and Canada's largest colony
of Northern Fulmars. These areas also provide habitat for a number of
marine animals including walruses, seals and polar bears.

"The establishment of new National Wildlife Areas around Clyde River and
Qikiqtarjuaq will increase the ecotourism value of the region," says
Minister Chuck Strahl, Canada's Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs.
"This will provide economic opportunities and enable residents to develop
environmentally sustainable tourism businesses and create jobs."

"Inuit began negotiations for the three National Wildlife Areas in
addition to the two already established, and eight Migratory Bird
Sanctuaries in Nunavut in 2001. Today's historic signing with Minister
Baird brings that work, along with the efforts to create the Niginganiq
Wildlife Area, an internationally recognized bowhead whale sanctuary near
Clyde River, to an end, and makes our years of struggles worthwhile. This
is a big day for Inuit," said Eetoolook. "The funding that comes along
with this agreement will result in long-lasting economic benefits for
Inuit in the affected areas."

"Protecting the bowhead whales of Niginganiq has been a 26 year marathon
effort", said Mike Russill, CEO of WWF-Canada. "We are grateful to the
people of Clyde River for their patience and persistence, and we thank
the Government of Canada and Minister Baird for their dedication and
commitment in pushing this finally over the finish line".

The federal Government is firmly committed to the protection, improvement
and conservation of our country's natural legacy. Environment Canada
works in collaboration with other federal departments, provinces and
territories, Aboriginal organizations, non-governmental organizations and
the public to preserve Canada's environment and conserve its precious
natural heritage for present and future generations.

BACKGROUNDER

Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement

On August 22, 2008, the Government of Canada announced the completion of
an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement and $8.3 million in funding to support
the Agreement's plans for environmental conservation and economic
development in Nunavut.

The agreement, negotiated between the Government of Canada, Nunavut
Tunngavik Inc. and four regional Inuit associations, allows for the
creation of three new National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) on Baffin Island to
protect local species and habitat - including a population of bowhead
whale that has been assessed as threatened in Canada.

The agreement also allows for co-management by Environment Canada and the
Inuit of the three new, and ten existing protected areas in the Nunavut
Settlement Area and expands economic and employment opportunities for
affected communities.

AGREEMENT DETAILS

The Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement fulfills the Government of
Canada's commitment under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to address
conservation area-related issues that could either provide benefits or
have a negative impact on the Inuit.

Specifically, this agreement addresses obligations identified in the
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement associated with the eight existing
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBS), the two existing National Wildlife
Areas and the three new proposed National Wildlife Areas administered by
Environment Canada in the Nunavut Settlement Area. These include:

- Cultural Resources Inventories, which are Inuit oral history projects
and archaeological projects, place studies and traditional ecological
knowledge interviews, will be used in the development of interpretive
materials for each protected area;

- the creation of an Inuit Tourism Providers Fund that Inuit may access
for training related to environmentally friendly tourism services, for
assistance in purchasing equipment, and to develop a tourism providers'
mentoring program;

- training young Inuit for careers in wildlife conservation through
career mentoring and student employment;

- employing Inuit as field assistants in research and monitoring programs
related to Environment Canada's protected areas;

- compensation for accidental, defence, or illegal kills of Polar and
Grizzly bears in Environment Canada's protected areas by permit holders;

- training for Inuit from communities adjacent to new National Wildlife
Areas on how to effectively conduct ecotourism businesses in the
protected areas, and assistance in developing and marketing these
businesses.

CONSERVATION BENEFITS

Co-management committees composed of both local and federal government
members will be responsible for the management of each of the protected
areas in the Nunavut Settlement Area. The committees will act as stewards
of the area, with responsibilities to review permit applications and to
develop the area management plan, among other duties.

One advantage to this system is the inclusion of critical Inuit
traditional ecological knowledge in the development of any management
plan. This is a significant step forward in terms of community-based
management of natural resources and will result in more comprehensive
management of these internationally significant areas.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

By fostering new means of economic development, such as ecotourism, the
Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement will help to diversify the Inuit
economy, confirm the ecotourism value of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and
National Wildlife Areas and assist Inuit to adapt to evolving
socio-economic conditions.

Recent increases in Arctic cruise ship tourism, ecotourism, cultural
tourism and adventure tourism present opportunities for Inuit to
establish locally-owned and operated businesses whose potential clientele
would have National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries as
their destinations. Examples of services to be offered include guiding,
outfitting, cultural interpretation and sculpture and art sales.

CULTURAL BENEFITS

The Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement provides for the preparation of
Cultural Resources Inventories. The inventories will support the
development of interpretative materials and management plans for the 10
existing and three proposed protected areas in the Nunavut Settlement
Area, and will identify Inuktitut place names for these areas. This
initiative may include oral history studies, archaeological surveys,
place name studies and traditional ecological knowledge interviews. The
resulting information gathered is important for the effective
co-management of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas.

The Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement also provides for the development
of interpretative materials that can be used by local tourism providers.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will ensure the proper balance of interpretative
products throughout the 12 communities. Expected products include an
Inuit Tourism Providers' Guide, tourism audio and visual materials that
explain the nature and value of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and
National Wildlife Areas from an Inuit perspective, community and
area-specific displays, Inuktitut place name identifiers, and literature
for community tourism centres and other outlets.

BACKGROUNDER

THREE NEW NATIONAL WILDLIFE AREAS PROTECT KEY HABITAT IN NUNAVUT

Protecting our Northern species and their habitat is a priority for the
Government of Canada. The recently signed Inuit Impact and Benefit
Agreement for Environment Canada protected areas allows for the creation
of three new National Wildlife Areas on Baffin Island, which will protect
another 4,534 km2, an area roughly 80 percent of the size of Prince
Edward Island. With the creation of these new protected areas, more than
18.5 million hectares or almost 185 thousand square kilometers of land
will be protected in Nunavut alone. This includes five National Wildlife
Areas, eleven Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and four National Parks.

The Government of Canada will work together with local community members
and Nunavummiut to ensure that both the community and the environment
benefit from these proposed National Wildlife Areas.

Each new area on Baffin Island provides an opportunity to protect unique
and important habitat.

Niginganiq National Wildlife Area (Isabella Bay) - 336,200 hectares

This area, proposed by the community of Clyde River, includes important
summer habitat for a population of bowhead whales that has been assessed
as threatened in Canada. The bowhead whale is a large and powerful marine
mammal that can break through ice over 20 cm thick with the crown of its
head. It can navigate and communicate under extensive ice fields using a
sophisticated acoustic sense. While some of the population, including
cows and calves, move westward through Lancaster Sound in late June and
early July, others, mainly adults and large adolescents, remain off the
east coast of Baffin Island for the summer and fall. Akpait National
Wildlife Area - 77,400 hectares

Akpait is an important area for a number of migratory birds including one
of Canada's largest Thick-billed Murre colonies. It is a nesting site for
Black-legged Kittiwakes and a breeding ground for Glaucous Gulls and
Black Guillemots. It is also home to polar bears, walruses and a variety
of seal species. The land is divided into steep cliffs that rise
dramatically to 915 metres above sea level and a complex series of steep
rock pinnacles and ridges bordered by a high talus slope and beach.

Qaqulluit National Wildlife Area - 39,800 hectares

Qaqulluit showcases two rock towers, orange with lichen and topped with
grassy plant life, and rising 430 metres above the ocean. The area is
home to Canada's largest colony of Northern Fulmars (birds), representing
an estimated 22 percent of the total Canadian population. There are also
marine animals including the walrus and ringed seal that use the waters
of the National Wildlife Area.

National Wildlife Areas are established and protected under the Canada
Wildlife Act. To be considered for designation, a site must contain
nationally significant habitat for migratory birds, must support wildlife
or ecosystems at risk, or must represent rare or unusual wildlife habitat.

Once an area has been designated as a National Wildlife Area, natural
features integral to the site are protected from disturbance, and
specific activities considered harmful to species or their habitats are
prohibited. Management activities include monitoring wildlife,
maintaining and improving wildlife habitat, conducting periodic
inspections, enforcing regulations, maintaining facilities, and
developing management plans. Wildlife research and interpretation may
also take place in these areas, but require a permit and are carefully
regulated and monitored.

Egalement offert en francais

Contacts:
Environment Canada
Media Relations
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008
www.ec.gc.ca

Office of the Minister of the Environment
Chris Day
Press Secretary
819-997-1441
Cell: 613-286-6064

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
867-975-4914
1-888-646-0006

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