3. Should conservation principles and values be the paramount consideration in land use planning for the Peel Watershed? Please explain the reasons for your answer.
Yes. As area this large that remains relatively untouched is unique in the world and should be protected as fully as possible. We are running out of truly wild places and we owe it to future generations to have and appreciate this special area. As Joni Mitchell said, "You don't know what you've lost till it's gone."
By Michael Purves, Whitehorse
from Yukon Territory
on August 27, 2010 at 2:01 p.m.
Yes - The Peel is one of the few remaining pieces of virgin land in this vast country of ours. We should preserve this amazing place for posterity.
By Al C
from Yukon Territory
on August 29, 2010 at 12:57 p.m.
No, it is not a "conservation plan" it is a "land use plan" so all factors of use must be considered and managed not denied.
By somebody
from
on August 30, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Yes. The value of this area is still to revealed. Keep it protected for our grandkids.
By george
from Yukon Territory
on August 30, 2010 at 1:23 p.m.
By Bob Sharp
from Yukon Territory
on August 30, 2010 at 2:32 p.m.
I feel that the Peel Watershed should be managed with conservation principles and values as the paramount consideration. It is a vital natural area that is unique to the world and significant in the future of our planet's survival
By Barbara DeMott
from British Columbia
on August 31, 2010 at 5:27 p.m.
By a concerned Yukoner
from Yukon Territory
on September 08, 2010 at 1:18 a.m.
Yes, when conservation includes the continuation of wilderness characteristics as well as natural ecosystems. Conservation is the cornerstone of sustaining the existing economic activity in the planning region, - guide-outfitting, subsistence use and harvesting of wildlife and plants, wilderness tourism, First Nations cultural identity, recreational hunting and wilderness tripping. Northern ecosystems function at very large spatial scales with migrations, movements between seasonal ranges, forest fires and full watershed processes. Their conservation requires large tracts of land and intact watersheds. There are few sufficiently large areas left in Yukon that are not already heavily influenced by off-road vehicle trails, mineral claims developments and other land uses, so few true wilderness areas. Much of the Peel is still wilderness, and deserves to remain in that state.
By D Reid
from Yukon Territory
on September 09, 2010 at 1:25 p.m.
Yes. They are consistent with the intent of maintaining the present character of the region and are also consistent with First Nation values for the area.
By chet
from Yukon Territory
on September 16, 2010 at 1:36 p.m.
Yes. Development cannot be "undone". This area deserves full protection not only for its own inherent value, but also to provide an ongoing opportunity to learn from a fully functioning ecosystem. So much that may one day be crucial to our survival is lost when we distort all the natural processes around us by developing or "managing" them.
By Jeremy Baumbach, Whitehorse
from Yukon Territory
on September 18, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.
Yes. I lived in this area for many years and write novels set in the Ogilvies. We humans are just one of so many species with an interest there. Our values should not simply be 'humancentric'; our decision to limit out impact in this huge area will be made only by us but may alter the habitats for caribou, moose, grizzlies, black bears, foxes, hares, sheep, fish, insects, shrews, marten, weasels, wolverine, pika, marmots, many birds, plants and on and on...
By Joanne Bell
from Yukon Territory
on September 23, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Yes, the Peel is unique in a planet where natural ecosystems are rapidly being destroyed. We need to protect it for the future. We constantly devalue the biodiversity of the earth and its natural services at our peril.
By Maryann Emery
from Alberta
on September 24, 2010 at 10:20 a.m.
Yes - because by placing other principles (eg: short-term economic benefits) first, these values are pre-empted, as are the opportunities for current and future generations to utilise renewable resources. By ensuring that conservation values receive priority, the precautionary principle is used and other interests may be considered along side in a balanced perspective.
By K Melton
from Yukon Territory
on September 24, 2010 at 12:37 p.m.
Yes. As per my response to question 1.
By Yukon citizen
from Yukon Territory
on September 24, 2010 at 4:14 p.m.
Yes. This area is truly unique in the Yukon, Canada and the world and should be recognized as such.
By Blaine Walden, Walden's Guiding
from Yukon Territory
on September 26, 2010 at 3:13 p.m.
Yes I do. "Our limited understanding of the effects of different land uses on other resources in the North makes this especially important."
By Johanne, Whitehorse
from Yukon Territory
on September 26, 2010 at 10:41 p.m.
Yes - the Peel waterhsed is valuable in it's own right and as a treasured resource for ist nations traditional activities.
By Ken Madsen
from Yukon Territory
on September 27, 2010 at 4:01 p.m.
Yes. The Peel Watershed is one of the few areas left in North America, if not the planet, that is relatively untouched by industrial development, supports healthy traditional use, and is breathtakingly beautiful.
By somebody
from Yukon Territory
on September 27, 2010 at 6:07 p.m.
Yes. The Peel watershed is a rare place of unspoiled wilderness. It is a complex ecosystem that can not simply be washed off and reassembled once all of the "value" has been ripped from the ground and the bulldozers have been left to rust. Conservation principles should be of paramount consideration bc we've only got one shot at getting it right. Once developed always developed. There would be no going back as we know from countless examples from across this country where long term sustainability was abandoned for short term gain.
By Tomorrow will be too late.
from Yukon Territory
on September 27, 2010 at 10:09 p.m.
Yes, This region is one of the few places on earth that remains relatively unsullied by industrial development and overuse.
By Doug Goodman
from British Columbia
on September 28, 2010 at 3:16 p.m.
Yes. The value of this land is dependent upon the conservation of its wilderness.
By Birch
from Yukon Territory
on September 28, 2010 at 6:52 p.m.
Yes. The short term economic gain from resource extraction is nothing compared to the long term benefits of having large,intact areas of wilderness. Wilderness is a rare commodity now and will be more valuable in the future.
By D.Keizer
from
on September 29, 2010 at 12:00 a.m.
Yes, large-scale protection is important to effectively protect an area. There are other areas in the Yukon where mineral exploration can occur. It doesn't have to be everywhere, and expecially in the Peel watershed where the environment is fairly intact. Furthermore, if IMA are allowed at the start of the Watershed, protecting the rest of the Watershed is almost useless. Why protect 80%, when we can "scrap" the whole watershed from the 20% that are non-protected? The whole watershed must be protected.
By Marie
from Yukon Territory
on September 29, 2010 at 10:17 p.m.
Yes absolutely. The Peel watershed is an increasingly rare piece of land which should be protected for its own sake as well as for the many animals which call it home. In order to protect the Peel for ourselves too, now and in the future, we need to refrain from destructive industrial activities in the area.
By Jannik Schou
from Yukon Territory
on September 30, 2010 at 2:36 a.m.
Yes, these areas must be protected 100% from all harmful industry activity, allowing the natural processes of nature to live in protected harmony and should be preserved for future generations not only to enjoy but to learn what should be valued as we are all dependent on nature for survival
By Laura Squires
from Ontario
on September 30, 2010 at 2:40 p.m.
Absolutely! This is what the most of the debate is all about! If people were not worried about the conservation values in the area, then there would be no worry about mining and road construction and everything else. However, when you consider all of the valuable wildlife habitat, the sheer rugged beauty of the land, the key critical watershed, the essential ecosystems in the Peel watershed, and the First Nations cultural heritage, then conservation principles and values have to be the paramount consideration.
By MegPol
from Yukon Territory
on September 30, 2010 at 5:16 p.m.
There are so few places left where these values can be placed as paramount.......don't we owe it to the planet to make conservation the priority where it is still a possibility?
By Dustin Davis
from Yukon Territory
on September 30, 2010 at 6:52 p.m.
Yes. See my previous answers. Yukon should conserve a much larger proportion of its land than it has so far protected.
While there are obvious economic benefits to Yukon from mining and other industrial development activities, such activities need not and should not be unrestricted. Large tracts of unspoiled wilderness have great economic value to Yukon not only in the form of wilderness tourism but also as the basis for an international reputation that draws people from around the world, including those who may never venture into regions such as the Peel Watershed but still value the fact that it exists. It also contributes to sustainable development, by ensuring that increasingly endangered wildlife can survive in such areas and that some portion of the boreal forest, along with all the life that it sustains, is protected.
By Pippa from Yukon
from Yukon Territory
on October 01, 2010 at 12:20 a.m.
Yes! Conservation principles and values are the only way to maintain the integrity of the Peel watershed. As stated before, political will to dance to the tune of the mining industry means that the land could be sold to the highest bidder. Especially due to the current fiscal state of the Yukon government, I do not trust that industrial activity is in the best interest of the land. Conservation is the safest way to navigate the tendency to open up this area to activities that will harm the ecological integrity of the land. In this, we have to listen to the First Nations call to protect the entire watershed.
By Yukoner
from Yukon Territory
on October 01, 2010 at 2:16 a.m.
Absolutely. Conservation principles and values are the underlying principles that will ensure the sate of the Peel Watershed remains intact and healthy for future generations.
By Maciej Stetkiewicz
from Yukon Territory
on October 01, 2010 at 3:19 p.m.
I do not like the planning commissions emphasis on the conservation principles when the oriignal purpose of the whole program was to be looking at land use - I emphasize land use - and withdrawing 80% is not a reasonable reflection of fair land use.
By KIT
from Yukon Territory
on October 01, 2010 at 8:07 p.m.
Yes I do. At this time government has little ability to manage development in a controlled manner. If the area is open to exploration and development it will be very difficult to limit access or control the pace of development.
By mclean
from Yukon Territory
on October 02, 2010 at 1:38 a.m.
By sjn
from Yukon Territory
on October 02, 2010 at 1:58 a.m.
