Statement from Minister Clarke on National Wildlife Week 2025

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke has issued the following statement:

“National Wildlife Week, celebrated this year from April 7 to 11, is an opportunity for us to look for ways we can continue to conserve and protect wildlife and their habitats. In the Yukon, animals play a vital role in our northern ecosystem and lifestyle. They also continue to be a significant local food source and are culturally important to Yukon First Nations, transboundary First Nations and the Inuvialuit.

“Part of the work to protect wildlife is to protect their terrestrial and aquatic habitats in the territory. The Government of Yukon has made significant progress towards protecting and conserving areas of the Yukon, including reporting an additional two per cent of the Yukon’s lands and waters as protected through the recent signing of the Aullaviat/Anguniarvik Traditional Conservation Area Agreement with the Inuvialuit Parties. This brings the territory’s total protected area to over 21 per cent, which is currently the highest percentage of reported protected areas of any province or territory in the country.

“The Department of Environment, in partnership with management partners, undertakes wildlife population surveys and monitors sensitive ecosystems to understand and address climate change and its impacts. Through this work, we are helping protect sensitive habitats and help ensure that wildlife in our territory have an opportunity to succeed.

“This National Wildlife Week, I hope all Yukoners can take a moment to appreciate and celebrate all the life that surrounds us. I encourage Yukoners to visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s website to learn more about how they can contribute to conservation efforts in Canada.”