The Porcupine Caribou Herd is the 8th largest herd of migratory caribou in North America. It migrates over approximately 250,000 km² of Northern Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Caribou can travel as many as 150 kilometres a week over very rough terrain. Most of the migration within the seasonal ranges is unpredictable. But each spring the pregnant cows attempt to lead the herd to the 1002 lands on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – the safest place to birth and raise calves.
 The 1002 lands are known by the Gwich'in people as Vadzaih googii vi dehk'it gwanlii, which means "the sacred place where life begins." This is an area rich in oil resources, but development conflicts with sustainability of the herd. Other issues that concern the herd are climate change and insect harassment, predators, parasites, hunting and other human activity. The Porcupine Caribou Management Board studies these issues and determines how best to protect the herd.
For over 20,000 years the caribou have been central to the culture of the First Nation peoples within the herd's range. This is still true today, and protection of the herd is critical for preservation of ancient traditions.
Because of the special need for protecting this herd, this co-management board works to manage the herd and protect and maintain its habitat in Canada. Its goal is to ensure continuance of the herd for subsistence use by Aboriginal users while recognizing that other users may also share the harvest.
Since the herd straddles the Canada-U.S. border during its migration, the board was mandated under an International Agreement in force since 1987. This agreement was signed by the governments of the United States, Canada, Northwest Territories and Yukon as well as Yukon First Nations, Inuvialuit and Gwich'in organizations. The board prepares Porcupine Caribou Management Plans that act as guidelines for management of the herd. It also makes recommendations for herd management to the Ministers of Environment for the Government of Yukon and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
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