Caribou management – essential
Although a census could not be completed last summer, the decline of the Porcupine Caribou herd has been well established. It is true that all wild animals follow a natural cycle of incline and decline in numbers over the years. However, in addition to this natural cycle there are external factors that impact the numbers. For instance, climate change (and thus habitat changes) harassment by such stressors as insects or helicopters and increased harvesting can have significant impacts on the migration and the numbers of the herd.
 At the time of the last count only a few years ago, there were 123,000 animals in the Porcupine Caribou herd. That may seem like a lot to some, but the numbers have been on a consistent decline since the early 1990s.
The primary function of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board (PCMB) is to manage the herd and 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.
As the Porcupine Caribou herd straddles the Canada-US border during its migration, the PCMB was mandated under an International Agreement in force since 1987. Signatories to the agreement include the governments of the United States, Canada, Northwest Territories and Yukon as well as Yukon First Nations (as represented by the Council of Yukon First Nations), Inuvialuit and Gwich'in organizations.
The Porcupine Caribou herd's range covers about 260,000 square kilometres and crosses Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Within this area there are currently 12 areas where different agencies have their own management regimes.
Management of the herd must take into consideration two federal governments, three state or territorial agreements, eight native land claim agreements, five national parks or preserves, two native special management areas and two specific ordinances (Dempster Highway Development Act and Federal Order-in-Council Withdrawal).
Gwich'in, Inuvialuit and Inupiat people from 18 communities in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alaska hunt the Porcupine Caribou for subsistence and to maintain their lifestyle. Some non-native residents in the areas also hunt the animals for both meat and trophies.
With this many interested groups, it is obvious why good communication and coordination is so important, and this is what makes the PCMB necessary.
Without coordinated efforts to manage the herd, its future and thus the future of many people dependent on the caribou would be uncertain at best.
A well-known Gwich'in activist, Norma Kassi, states: "The relationship between the Gwich'in and the caribou is not one of convenience; it is one of necessity. A healthy Porcupine caribou herd is necessary for the continued survival of Gwich'in culture."
The PCMB is looking at various mechanisms for management of the herd. For example, the board has developed a Management Plan and revisits it frequently to determine goals, identify challenges and measure progress of the board and its activities.
The Board is also considering specific herd management issues, such as regulations related to hunting along the Dempster Highway and harvesting of cow caribou.
In fact, the PCMB will be working on developing a Harvest Management Plan which will specifically outline and address issues related to harvesting the caribou. Again, the Board's primary focus is the continuance of the herd and the sustainability of lifestyles that are directly dependent on the herd.
Successful harvest management must be founded on community needs and values. Therefore, the PCMB will be consulting with user groups in the range of the Porcupine Caribou herd to seek input specifically with respect to caribou harvesting. The Board expects that community input will provide the direction and solid framework upon which the Harvest Management Plan will be based.
Working together, the caribou will be a part of our lives for generations unending. However, management of the herd now is essential to achieve that goal in the future.
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