Assessing Climate Change Risk and Resilience in the Yukon
66 What I'm seeing is a broad range of folks getting in trouble. Both experienced travelers but also
inexperienced. What I'm seeing is a changing demographic in the Yukon that involves folks coming
up and getting out onto the land that don't necessarily have the experience that was once gleaned by
years on the land.
PROJECT PARTICIPANT, KLUANE NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE
Community-based research across the Yukon (Guyot et al. 2006) highlights cases where impacts
are especially pronounced. In Beaver Creek, community members have noted that the river no
longer freezes over, leaving them with no ice to travel on. In the Kluane area, community research
(KFN and AICBR 2016) noted that many fishing spots are no longer safely accessible due to the
changing environment and thin ice.
The level of capacity for risks related to safety on the land is unknown, and likely varies across the
Yukon. While some people have adapted to changing climate and weather by changing when,
where and what they hunt, fish or gather, others are finding it harder to adapt. The ability to predict
and adapt to these conditions is vital in order to increase resilience.
Recommendations: Recommendations to build resilience include clarifying how governments
and communities can work together to monitor and predict conditions on the land, providing the
equipment and safety gear needed for accessing remote areas, and providing search and rescue
assistance; exploring ways to support food security for harvested foods; and protecting heritage
sites at risk from climate change impacts.
CHAPTER 4 PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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