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About 80 people braved the chilly weather to attend a regional planning conference in Dawson City on January 18th and 19th. This well received conference used a combination of presentations, break-out groups, and a panel discussion to address the evaluation of trade-offs, frameworks for conservation assessment and economic and social consequences of resource development.

The Dawson Planning Conference was organized with the assistance of Yukon Land Use Planning Council. The objectives for the Conference were to explore planning issues identified by the Commission and to discuss approaches to defining alternative futures for the regional plan. 

The Commission has released a summary of the interests and issues for the Dawson Planning Region presented in written submissions and from comments made at community meetings. Some of the interests identified by the Plan Partners and public directly concern the land and resource base; others are connected to the relationship people have with the land and resource base. Some interests are shared among stakeholders, while others may be in direct conflict with other interests.

The Commission recognizes the challenges presented by such a diverse range of ecological, cultural and economic interests sharing a common resource base. The mandate of the Commission is to define a common, sustainable vision for the forseeable future that minimizes land use conflict among interests. The Issues & Interest Report will be used to guide research and further consultation to help understand how that future might unfold.

Though a diversity of interests and issues were expressed, the Commission recognized four key themes that will be addressed in the regional land use plan:

Mineral Exploration and Mining

The Dawson Region has experienced significant historic mineral exploration and mining activity. Recent discoveries in the region will lead to further exploration and possible mine development. The Land Use plan will need to address the cumulative effects of mineral exploration, mine development and access issues.

Conservation of Fish& Wildlife Habitat

The desire to maintain a healthy ecosystem was clearly expressed. The regional plan must provide the framework for identification and designation for protection of areas of high ecological significance or sensitivity.

Defining a “Workable Balance” for Sustainable Development

Balancing economic development with environmental protection may provide greater equity in social outcomes by sustaining traditional subsistence activity. A regional land use plan can establish a framework for evaluating the “workable balance” of alternative approaches to achieving the desired future state.

Land Use Conflict within the Yukon River Corridor

The Yukon River is a key artery for the region and Yukon. It experiences multiple uses and a wide range of user groups. It is very important to the subsistence of the TH First Nation. This will be one of the more important issues that the land use plan will need to address.

For thousands of years, the Dawson Land Use Planning area has been utilized by First Nation people. The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have traditionally occupied, traveled, or harvested in virtually every corner of the planning region. 

Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Government have provided the Commission with a Preliminary Report on Issues and Interests. The report identifies Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in interests in three broad categories:

• Heritage Resoureces and Cultural Protection
• Fish and Wildlife Harvesting and Habitat
• Sustainable Development

The list of issues is not exhaustive, and the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Final Agreement also contains many principles and goals associated with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in interests in the region. A copy of the report may be obtained in the Documents section

The Commisison held its 3rd meeting in Dawson City on October 12-13, 2011. The Commission reviewed submissions from Yukon Government,Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Government, as well as from public stakeholders on issues and interests within the region. With this input, the Commission wlll prepare a statement about the regional issues that should be addresed by the Land Use Plan. The issues will form the basis of public workshops, to be held in late November in Dawson City.

Further meetings of the Commission are expected to occur at key decision points in the planning process. The next meeting, scheduled for February 2012, will review Resource Assessment reports for interests and values identified by our Plan Partners.

The Commission is pleased with the startup and progress to date

• met its obligation for fiscal management of public funds;
• stayed on time and on budget;
• established an office in Dawson City;
• developed a website for communication with the public;
• adopted a logo that reflects a shared vision for the region;
• held three community meetings to raise awareness of the Commission workplan;
• hired two staff members to help the Commission prepare the Plan;
• commenced the "real" work of considering the current and future issues within the region.

The Commission would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the Plan Partners (Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and Yukon Governments) in addressing budget, policy and technical issues in a timely fashion.