Rasmussen Lowlands, Nunavut - Ramsar Site

Reasons for Ramsar Designation:

The area is a rich coastal plain providing summer range and nesting habitat for up to 500,000 geese, shorebirds, and other migratory waterfowl.

Date of Ramsar Designation:

24 May 1982.

Jurisdiction:

Federal - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Land Tenure:

• Site: Most of the area is federal Crown land. Title to sites near the Inglis and Murchison rivers are held in fee simple by the Inuit of Nunavut per the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

• Surrounding Area: A mix of federal Crown land and Inuit-owned land.

Conservation Measures Taken:

None to date.

Conservation Measures Proposed:

This area may be proposed as a National Wildlife Area, subject to co-management agreements under the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

Current Land Use/Activities in:

• Site: Hunting, fishing and trapping continue by Inuit of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven. The area is used as a winter travel route between local communities. Permits are issued by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada under the Territorial Land Use Regulations for this area. Screening of projects under the Nunavut Impact Review Board is undertaken with certificates issued by the Nunavut Planning Commission. Permission is required to gain access to Inuit-owned land. Habitat and ornithological studies are underway for this area.

• Surrounding Area: Hunting, fishing and trapping continue by local Inuit of Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven.

Threats to Integrity of:

• Site: A plan developed in the 1970s for the proposed Polar Gas pipeline called for the pipeline corridor to cross this area. This project has not proven viable to date.

• Surrounding Area: None currently.

Status of Management Plan:

There currently is no active management of this area. Should the area be designated as a National Wildlife Area, under the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, a management plan for this area would be required within five years of its designation.

Management Authority:

Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
P.O. Box 1714
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0