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Protected Areas Act (SNWT 2019, c 11).

Country/Territory
Canada
Territorial subdivision
Northwest Territories
Document type
Legislation
Date
2019 (2020)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Forestry, Land & soil, Wild species & ecosystems, Waste & hazardous substances
Keyword
Fuelwood Timber extraction/logging Forest management/forest conservation Traditional rights/customary rights Indigenous peoples Cadastre/land registration Waste disposal Waste management Basic legislation Protected area Institution Registration Traditional knowledge/indigenous knowledge Governance Policy/planning Climate change Public participation Authorization/permit Non-timber products Zoning Pollution control Protection of environment Enforcement/compliance Offences/penalties
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, Asia and the Pacific, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

The Act is organized in 6 Parts. Part 1, Interpretation And application, clarifies the purpose of the Act. The purpose of this Act is to support and promote the protection, conservation and maintenance of biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural continuity of the Northwest Territories through the creation of a representative network of protected areas intended to be permanent for the benefit of current and future generations. Part 2 provides for establishment of the Protected Areas Registry and clarifies the content of the registry. The Part also disciplines the nomination of a protected area; nomination can be made by an indigenous government or organization, by the Executive Council and the Minister shall consider the nomination without delay. An area shall be considered for approval as a candidate protected area if the area is made up exclusively of public land, or of public land and settlement lands or other private lands, or made up exclusively of settlement lands or other private lands, if the private landholders consent to the nomination; and if the Minister is satisfied that the area meets the purpose of this Act and any prescribed eligibility criteria. Competency for approval of A Candidate Protected Areas (section 11) is given to the Executive Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, and once approved shall be added to the Registry by the Minister. Once the Candidate Protected Area is established the Commissioner in Executive Council may, by regulation, establish a candidate protected area as a protected area (section 17); before this establishment the Minister must, with few exceptions, enter into an establishment agreement for the protected area with one or more Indigenous governments or organizations that the Executive Council has identified should be parties in the establishment of a protected area. The Minister shall also ensure that there is an opportunity for public engagement before the establishment of a protected area under section 17. The regulations establishing a protected area shall include the metes and bounds description of the area and any prohibited activities in addition to those set out in this Act that are set out in any applicable establishment agreement or, in the absence of an establishment agreement, as appropriate for the management of the protected area.

Full text
English/French
Website
www.justice.gov.nt.ca

References - Legislation

Amends

Territorial Parks Act (R.S.N.W.T. 1988,c.T-4).

Legislation | Canada | 1988 (2013)

Keyword: Protected area, Classification/declassification, Tourism, Protection of habitats, Indigenous peoples

Source: FAO, FAOLEX