Yukon government decision puts future of the Wind River wilderness at risk

The Yukon Government has upheld the controversial recommendation of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) to approve the request by Cash Minerals of Vancouver to bulldoze winter roads into the heart of the Wind River wilderness in northeast Yukon.

In October, 2007 the junior exploration company applied for a land use permit to clear 178km of roads along the Wind River and build an airstrip to access its blocks of uranium claims. In spite of unprecedented public, First Nations, and tourism industry concerns about the negative impacts of the project on wildlife and wilderness values, YESAB recommended that the government approve the roads, fuel caches and accompanying airstrip. In its final decision issued on January 22, the Yukon government agreed the project should be given the green light, but directed the company to remove the airstrip from its plans.

“While removal of the airstrip is a step in the right direction, the Yukon government decision fails utterly to deal with the acute long term negative effects of the road on the Wind River wilderness. The government’s own Environment Department said these roads and accompanying industrial uses could harm woodland caribou and place at risk many other species such as wintering moose, grizzly bears and nesting birds of prey,” said Mike Dehn, CPAWS-Yukon Executive Director.

“Many Yukon tourism and service businesses that rely on the Wind River and adjacent wilderness areas will be hurt by this decision. It’s a breach of the public trust to hand out development permits to mining companies on a first-come-first-served basis in advance of land use planning. Yukon people expect the government to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations,” added Dehn.

The Wind River is in the heart of the Three Rivers region of the Yukon, known internationally for its spectacular mountains, wildlife and wild rivers. CPAWS-Yukon proposes a network of protected areas and conservation lands in these watersheds in balance with appropriate economic development. The Yukon government decision clears the way for road development and advanced uranium exploration in advance of land use and conservation planning in the region.

CPAWS-Yukon and other local non-government organizations are considering their options in wake of this regressive government decision. CPAWS continues its work to uphold the spirit and intent of the Yukon Environment Act and to urge government to respect the provisions for land use planning embodied in the Umbrella Final Agreement.