80% of the region is made up of Conservation Areas in which:

• existing oil and gas and mineral claims may remain,

• no new oil and gas and mineral claims and no new roads or trails are allowed, and

• two types of Conservation Areas are recognized:

> Special Management Areas — permanently protected areas that make up 55% of the region,

> Wilderness Areas — interim protected areas that make up 25% of the region and must be reviewed from time to time.

20% of the region is made up of Integrated Management Areas in which:

• new oil, gas and mineral claims, as well as development (including roads), are allowed subject to the current regulatory process, and

• three zones have been created, each with different levels of acceptable development.

There are 28 policy recommendations and 11 research recommendations including:

• a plan must be developed for the Dempster Highway Corridor,

• the Wind River Trail should no longer be recognized as an existing route,

• off-road vehicles (except snowmobiles) should be restricted to certain locations and specific trails, and not allowed in sensitive habitats,

• no new permanent infrastructure should be allowed along major rivers, and

• the Yukon government and regional First Nations must agree on a process for deciding if a development proposal fits with the Plan. The process should involve an appropriate third party board or committee (such as the Yukon Land Use Planning Council).

Final recommended land use designations 

Land use designations

Conservation Area - 80%

Special Management Area (SMA) - 55%
• intended to become legally designated as protected area
• permanently withdrawn from any new industrial development and surface access (e.g., roads)

Wilderness Area - 25%
• intended to become an interim protected area
• interim withdrawal from any new industrial development and surface access (e.g., roads)

Integrated Management Area - 20%

Zone II* - 1%
• low levels of industrial development and access allowed

Zone III - 11%
• conservative levels of industrial development and access allowed

Zone IV - 8%
• higher levels of industrial development and access allowed

Overlay Zones (overlap above categories)

Major River Corridors
• land adjacent to the major river corridors requires special management
• no new all-season infrastructure is allowed

Dempster Highway Corridor
• requires additional detailed planning