Conservation planning Natural resource development

Recommendations to Yukon Government for a New Public Lands Act to Replace and Modernize Existing Legislation

Reid, D., & Cooke, H.

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WCS Canada's recommendations to Yukon Government in its pursuance of a new Public Lands Act.

Key points

1. Land management: New laws should respect existing land use plans and require reviews by First Nations and environmental boards before selling or leasing public lands. Key limitations should remain in place, such as restrictions on land size, and new regulations should address issues like grazing leases and hay cutting from public lands.
2. Trail and access regulations: A moratorium should be placed on new trails without permits, and any new trails should adhere to strict width and tree-cutting restrictions. The legislation should also define non-motorized zones and regulate private resource roads.
3. Public use of lands: Citizens should continue to be allowed to camp recreationally on public land without a permit.
4. Protected areas: The new legislation should continue and expand the ability to set aside land for public good, such as wildlife habitats and culturally important sites. This includes creating a flexible types of protected area for small, high value ecological and cultural sites.

Abstract

Yukon Government is pursuing a new Public Lands Act that will replace two existing pieces of legislation, the Lands Act and the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act (TL(Y)A).

The existing legislation has primarily dealt with four major functions of government in its control of public lands (i.e. what are frequently called Crown lands):

1. Disposition (sale, lease) of public lands to private interests
2. Access by the public and by commercial interests on public lands
3. Uses of public lands by public and commercial interests
4. Securement of public lands for specific societal (i.e. non-commercial) purposes

We have key recommendations for the new legislation related to each of these functions.

Recommended citation

Reid, D., & Cooke, H. (2022). Recommendations to Yukon Government for a New Public Lands Act to Replace and Modernize Existing Legislation. WCS Canada. https://wcscanada.org/resources/recommendations-to-yukon-government-for-a-new-public-lands-act-to-replace-and-modernize-existing-legislation/