News Release

Yukoners Want More Land Protected, New Poll Shows

October 25, 2001 – Whitehorse – A new poll conducted by Pollara shows that Yukoners have tremendous pride in the wilderness heritage of the territory, and want far more done to protect the Yukon’s natural environment. And the poll indicates that Yukoners are not willing to sacrifice this heritage for the narrow economic self-interest of a few companies. One of the survey’s most startling findings is that residents recommend on average that 30% of the territorial land base should be protected – compared to the mere 11.8% that is currently set aside.

“This survey clearly shows that CPAWS’ longstanding position on protected areas is very much in line with the vast majority of residents,” says Juri Peepre of the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “Yukoners want a healthy environment and jobs for future generations – and we believe that the two go hand-in-hand. Yukon residents want a truly even-handed approach.”

The survey shows that Yukon residents believe strong conservation is essential for the future economic health and vitality of the territory. Most also believe that tourism, parks and wildlife will play a far more significant role in benefiting the Yukon’s future economy than any one industry such as mining, forestry or oil and gas. There are also high levels of support among Yukon residents for creating and promoting protected areas. This is consistent with the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy mandate to complete a network of conservation lands in the territory’s 23 natural regions.

Other highlights include:

• Almost two-thirds (61%) of Yukon residents agree that more needs to be done to protect wilderness areas in the territory. More than half (57%) of all residents support the creation and promotion of more protected areas in the Yukon. Opposition is reported by 35% of respondents.

• Almost half (47%) of all Yukon residents report that tourism, parks and wildlife represent the industry which is extremely important for benefiting the future economy of the Yukon; a result which outranked other industries including forestry, mining and oil and gas. And more than three-quarters (77%) of Yukon residents agree that protected areas are an important way to attract tourism to the Yukon.

• Top-of-mind conservation issues familiar to Yukon residents include mining and mining regulations (21%), forestry and logging (20%), oil pipelines (14%), fisheries (14%) and wildlife concerns (14%).

• More than half of all Yukon residents feel they do not have enough accurate, reliable information about the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy.

The independent survey was conducted by telephone among 401 adults in the Yukon between August 30th and September 12th, 2001. Overall results are accurate to within ± 4.9%, nineteen times out of twenty. The survey was commissioned by CPAWS-Yukon, a Yukon-based non-profit organization focused on conservation.

Juri Peepre
CPAWS-Yukon
Telephone: 867-393-8080, ext. 2