Delegates from across the territory began meeting this morning to discuss the challenges of wildlife and habitat management in a growing and more complex world.

There was a time not long ago when the Yukon's game branch was essentially focused on the issues raised by hunters, trappers, anglers and big game outfitters, Yukon governmnent biologist Tom Jung told those attending the two-day environmental forum.

Yukoners, he said, wanted to know how many there were and where.

Were there rainbow trout in this lake?

Jung said with the era of aboriginal land claims coming about in the 1990s, there also came new legal obligations and players in the area of wildlife management.

He pointed out the arrival of the central wildlife management board, and the local renewable resource councils established in the different traditional territories across the Yukon.

Promoting wildlife viewing opportunities, he said, began edging its way into the picture in the 1990s.

The questions surrounding the management of wildlife in the territory remained the same, though the process changed dramatically, Jung said.

He said with the new millennium came an even greater weight on the Department of Environment to provide input into emerging land use exercises.

As the emphasis on biodiversity grew alongside increasing worry about shrinking habitat across the globe, so did the Yukon's responsibililty to international forums like the conventions on endangered species and animal trade.

In 2003, Canada passed its new Species At Risk Act, Jung pointed out.

Taking shape at home was the new Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Act.

All of these things, said Jung, 'increased the role of the branch and the scope of what we do.'

Fundamentally, though, the responsibility of the department remains: to ensure healthly wildlife populations and their habitat are carried into the future.

'That is why we all do this work, we want to make sure it is here for our grandchildren.'

Delegates also heard, however, that there are large expanses of the Yukon where no scientific research exists for specific species.

They heard how wildlife and habitat managers are facing increasing costs and are having to do more with less.

Where once radio collars cost $500 each, they're up to $4,000 now. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed, and hourly rentals for helicopters have more than doubled over the years.

It was also pointed out, however, that more and more, there is a growing departure from the standard aerial survey work to get a handle on the health of the ecosystem.

Regional biologist Mark O'Donoghue of the Northern Tutchone office in Mayo mentioned how the community of Mayo is recruiting the 20 most active hunters to keep track of every moose they see all year long, and record things like its age and sex.

About 400 moose sightings are being documented every year so far, helping to establish a reliable indication of calf survival rates.

Under the community's ecological monitoring project, information on everything from mushrooms to mice is being gathered.

Under the project, O'Donoghue said, the 20 most active on the land berry pickers, elders are surveyed.

In the last 10 years, it has been noted, the damage by aspen leaf miners has increased significantly, he said.

In the territory of the Selkirk First Nation, they gather each May just as they used to do traditionally to discuss what they've seen on the land in the last year.

Their experiences or concerns help shape the management priorities, O'Donoghue explained.

Among the items to be addressed in addition to wildlife inventories are global climate change, changes to the landscape, parks and habitat protection areas.

The issue of wildlife inventories and the need to glean a better understanding of what exists and where has become a national issue.

There is a growing national concern that without adequate knowledge of wildlife and their habitat, there can be no informed discussion about proposed development and its potential impact.

Nor can the wisdom of particular land use designations be supported one way or the other.

Adequate financial support to gain a better understanding of what the territory's hinterland is has been a matter raised by the Yukon Fish and Game Association.

Increasing resources for inventory work was a commitment by the Yukon Party in last fall's election campaign.

Premier Dennis Fentie is expected to table his annual budget next month.

Fentie, who also doubles as the minister of Environment, said the forum is a means of building stronger partnerships and relationships.

'While this forum has come together to look at environmental inventories, monitoring and data collection, I am sure we can all leave here with a greater understanding of how the collected environmental information and knowledge can be used and exchanged amongst ourselves.'

The public is invited to drop into the High Country Inn, the conference site, this evening to see a display of posters.