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An overview of the process

The process for the development of Nunavik’s protected areas network has centered around participation and collaboration between local communities, regional organizations, and government agencies.

This planning process has included the identification, development and refinement of numerous proposals for protected areas, many of which have since been incorporated into the Registre des aires protégées au Québec. Additionally, it has involved the establishment of two critical governance bodies: the Protected Areas Working Group (PAWG) and its advisory committee. Consultations have played a key role throughout the process, serving as the basis for the vision that continues to guide and inform each plan and proposal.

The creation of protected areas in Nunavik is a multi-year process. This consultation process is a continuation of the consultations that were carried out Nunavik-wide in 2011 and 2012 on the same subject. Consultations are critical for the establishment of such a network of protected areas. Moreover, the present consultation process reflects a desire on behalf of the Advisory Committee to the PAWG to promote access to relevant information for the people of Nunavik, and to obtain feedback from communities as well as local and regional organizations on the protected areas planning process. They also assess the relevance of Nunavik’s current protected areas network to community needs, priorities, concerns, and aspirations for the territory.

”If we don’t have the river [protected], we don’t have food.

Tursujuq National Park © Lucile Drouineau, KRG

Who
are the people involved?

Inukjuak © David Beland, MU Conseils

The communities of Nunavik

In Nunavik, each Inuk, Naskapi and Cree is an important actor in the planning process of the protected areas network. The Inuit Nation, along with the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach and the Cree Nation of Whapmagoostui, are at the heart of the process.

The Nunavik Protected Areas Working Group (PAWG)

The Nunavik PAWG, created in 2013, follows up on the recommendations of the 2011–2012 community consultations on the creation of the Nunavik protected areas network. It is composed of representatives from the following organizations:

  • Kativik Regional Government (KRG)
  • Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP)
  • Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)
  • Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE)
  • Société du Plan Nord (SPN)

Kawawachikamach © David Beland, MU Conseils

The Advisory Committee to the PAWG

The Advisory Committee, created in 2017, ensures information sharing and validation of the PAWG’s work on protected area planning. It is composed of representatives from the following organizations:

  • Kativik Regional Government (KRG)
  • Makivik Corporation (Makivvik)
  • Cree Nation Government
  • Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach
  • Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP)

Progress
made so far

1998

Master Plan for Land Use in the Kativik Region

The Master Plan for Land Use in the Kativik Region was adopted in 1998 (revised in 2020) after extensive consultations with local communities, regional organizations, various stakeholders in the region, and government and public agencies. This document laid the foundation for a process of collaborative management of land, environment, and resources on a regional scale. It seeks to strike a balance between land development and environmental integrity.

Rivière-George – Territorial Reserve for Protected Area Purposes © Frederic Poisson, MELCCFP

2008-2009

11 protected area proposals

The Government of Quebec submitted 11 protected area proposals to the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) and the Makivik Corporation:

  • 8 proposed biodiversity reserves
  • 3 territorial reserves for protected area purposes

The KRG and the Makivik Corporation agreed to consider these proposals, subject to community consultations in Nunavik and the opportunity to submit their own proposals.

Quebec's network of protected areas now covers 8.12% of Quebec's land area.

2011

Announcement of the Plan Nord and the Plan Nunavik

The KRG and Makivik Corporation responded to the Quebec government's announcement of the Plan Nord with the Plan Nunavik. This plan presented the challenges, objectives, and priorities of the Nunavik Inuit over a 25-year period in various areas: health, housing, education, tourism, etc. The Plan Nunavik laid the foundation for the Parnasimautik initiative.

2011-2012

Community consultations on protected areas in Nunavik

One of the important insights emerging from these consultations is that people and the land are in a relationship of interdependence, adaptation, and resilience. This relationship is the key to a healthy future. As custodians of the past, present, and future use of the territory, the communities and Nations of Nunavik have a strong sense of responsibility to maintain the integrity of the territory and to pass on the knowledge and skills associated with it.

As a result of these consultations:

  • 6 proposed biodiversity reserves and 3 territorial reserves for protected area purposes were approved with amendments and listed in the Registre des aires protégées :
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée des Drumlins-du-Lac-Viennaux
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée de l’Estuaire-des-Rivières-Koktac-et-Nauberakvik
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée du Fjord-Tursukattaq
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée de Kangiqsujuaq
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée de Quaqtaq-Kangirsuk
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée de la Rivière-Delay
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée du Lac-Jeannin
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-Marralik
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-George
  • 2 proposed biodiversity reserves without the support of local and regional authorities in Nunavik were listed in the Registre des aires protégées au Québec:
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée de la Rivière-Vachon
    • Réserve de biodiversité projetée du Lac-Sérigny.
  • New proposals were submitted by the regional authorities. None of these proposals were accepted by the Ministère de l'Environnement at the time, but these territories were included in a database for the next stage of protected area creation.
  • A consensus emerged that the Kovik River and its watershed should be a priority for conservation.
From the Protected Area Planning in Nunavik Report, 2013

2012–2014

Parnasimautik Initiative

The Parnasimautik initiative is the largest community consultation ever conducted in Nunavik. Conducted between 2012 and 2014, this process was set out to define a comprehensive vision for development based on Inuit culture, identity, language, and traditional way of life. Land, family, justice, employment, and the environment were added to the list of core areas already contained in the Plan Nunavik.

2012

Announcement of the target to protect 20% of the territory of Nunavik

The Quebec government announced its willingness to reach the 20% protection target of the Plan Nord area before 2020. The organizations representing Nunavik had the same target for the region.

2013

Creation of the Nunavik Protected Areas Working Group

The Nunavik Protected Areas Working Group (PAWG) was formed with representatives from the following organizations:

  • Kativik Regional Government (KRG)
  • Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCCFP)
  • Ministère de l’Énergie et des Resources naturelles (MERN)
  • Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP)
  • Société du Plan Nord (SPN)
  • The Makivik Corporation withdrew from the Working Group in 2017 to sit on the Advisory Committee instead.

It began its work based on the findings of the 2011–2012 community consultation report.

2016

Incorporation of 40 protected area proposals into a database

40 protected area proposals arising from the 2011–2012 consultations and expert assessments were reviewed by the PAWG and incorporated into a database, and prioritization targets were established.

2017

Establishment of an Advisory Committee and a prioritization exercise leading to 9 protected areas agreed to by consensus.

In 2017, an Advisory Committee was created to provide recommendations and advice to the PAWG. It was formed with representatives from the following organizations:

  • Kativik Regional Government (KRG)
  • Makivik Corporation
  • Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach
  • Cree Nation Government
  • Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCCFP)

Prioritization tools for the 40 proposals were also developed in 2017 by each of the PAWG members. For its part, the Advisory Committee developed an objective tool that integrates “the cultural and social values of Indigenous communities.” It is composed of 3 components: cultural use, conservation, and development. A scoring system for the criteria included in each component allows the proposals to be prioritized.

Following this objective prioritization exercise, stakeholders had high-level qualitative and political discussions that resulted in consensus on 9 protected areas:

  1. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de la Rivière-Innuksuac
  2. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de la Rivière-Arnaud
  3. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de Tursujuq-Nord
  4. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de Tursujuq-Centre
  5. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de Tursujuq-Sud
  6. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée du Canyon-Eaton
  7. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée du Marais-Maritime
  8. Réserve de territoire aux fins d'aire protégée de la Rivière-George-Nord
  9. Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-Marralik

2018

Provisional protection status obtained

The temporary suspension of the issuance of mining titles in the 9 agreed-upon protected areas has been in effect since 2018. In addition, the Kovik River was granted the status of "proposed aquatic reserve: Rivière-Kovik Proposed Aquatic Reserve (« Réserve aquatique projetée de la Rivière-Kovik »)".

Rivière-Kovik – Proposed Aquatic Reserve © Mélanie Veilleux-Nolin, MELCCFP

2019

Signing of the Specific Agreement to Preserve the Cambrien Lake/Nachicapau Lake/Fort Mackenzie (Waskaikinis) Area

This territory is subject to a specific agreement for its conservation. See the fact sheet on this area for more information.

Lac Cambien and Lac Nachicapau Area © Marianne Ricard, KRG

2020

Additions to the Registre des aires protégées au Québec and achievement of the 20% target

In 2020, the new territorial reserves for protected area purposes (TRPAPs) were formally incorporated into the Registre des aires protégées au Québec along with two expansions—to the Marralik River TRPAP and the George River TRPAP.

Results

  • The Réserve aquatique projetée de la Rivière-Kovik was added to the Registre in 2018.
  • 8 new protected area proposals:
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-Innuksuac
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-Arnaud
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de Tursujuq-Nord
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de Tursujuq-Centre
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de Tursujuq-Sud
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée du Canyon-Eaton
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée du Marais-Maritime
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-George-Nord
  • 2 TRPAP expansions
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-Marralik
    • Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de la Rivière-George

The protected area network covers 20.59% of Nunavik's surface area.

2021

Revision of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act

Since 2021, with the revision of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (NHCA), future territories to protect will be able to benefit from a permanent protection status without having to go through a provisional status (proposed). They may, however, be placed on reserve prior to obtaining permanent protected status.

2022-2023

Consultation Phase 1

Led by the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in close partnership with the Advisory Committee to the PAWG, the first phase of this process was designed to inform Nunavik communities and empower them to express their views on the process that led to the definition of the current network of protected areas, as well as on its relevance. This phase will be followed by a second phase.

2024-…

Consultation Phase 2

This second phase of consultation, led by the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) in close partnership with the Advisory Committee to the PAWG, will provide an opportunity for community reflection on the enhancement of these territories within the protected areas network. It will involve workshops with maps to validate the precise boundaries of the protected areas, as well as the exploration of community aspirations for the development of these protected areas.