First Nation declares protected area in northern B.C.’s Taku River watershed – CBC

Jan 24, 2023

Taku River Tlingit declare Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, according to Tlingit law

The Taku River Tlingit First Nation in Atlin, B.C., has declared a vast swath of its traditional territory in northern B.C. off-limits to mining and other extractive-resource development.

The First Nation has named the 1.8-million hectare Taku River watershed an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), according to Tlingit law. The one-page declaration, signed by six representatives of the First Nation, says it covers “all lands that bear waters flowing into the Taku River.”

According to the declaration, the IPCA “protects critical landscapes while providing for a diversified economic future,” by setting aside 60 per cent of the watershed for protection. That means mining would be off-limits in those areas, while things such as tourism, research and restoration work would be allowed.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/taku-river-tlingit-protected-area-1.6723444