The Government of Alberta (GoA) is committed to maintaining jobs, building local economies, and supporting strong communities, while conserving and wisely managing our public lands. An important part of the government’s approach to managing public lands is the involvement of local Albertans—those who live, work, and recreate on the landscape. This was key to informing the Cold Lake Sub-regional Plan.
As part of its 2019 commitment to achieving and maintaining naturally self-sustaining woodland caribou populations, the GoA established the Northeast Caribou Sub-regional Task Force (Task Force). The GoA initiated a sub-regional approach to caribou recovery because it ensures we consider and balance a broad range of interests and activities. The Task Force provided recommendations to inform the development of this sub-regional plan. It included people and organizations familiar with the Cold Lake Sub-region, including local municipalities, Indigenous peoples and organizations, the energy and forestry sectors, trappers, recreational users, environmental non-government organizations, and other local stakeholders and knowledge holders. The Task Force recommendations were important for developing management approaches that support naturally functioning ecosystems that will benefit a wide range of species. In line with Task Force recommendations and commitments under the Alberta-Canada Section 11 Conservation Agreement for Boreal Caribou under the Species at Risk Act, the plan includes a focus on conserving and recovering boreal woodland caribou habitat and population.
Alberta’s land and resources support our economy, our vibrant communities, and many subsistence, recreational, and cultural opportunities. This includes Indigenous traditional use and culture, activities associated with First Nations’ Treaty rights, and harvesting by recognized Métis harvesters. This sub-regional plan is meant to build on Alberta’s environmental leadership by providing clear guidance to regulators and enabling a working landscape that supports economic opportunities now and into the future. This plan gives the regulatory system clarity to enable efficient and transparent decisions. It also demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to develop our resources while supporting other land uses, wildlife, and ecosystems across the sub-region. This holistic approach to land and resource management will maintain ecosystems capable of supporting Alberta’s economic, social, and environmental objectives for the Cold Lake Sub-region.