The Yukon Government (YG) eServices is implementing Envoke, a new email communication platform. Wildlife Viewing (WV) will have a subaccount on Envoke through eServices, which will be used to distribute newsletters to interested members of the public.
Envoke is a Canadian owned and operated company that specializes in working with communication professionals. Envoke focuses on facilitating effective and compliant communication. All client data is maintained on servers in Canada and service support is provided from within Canada as well. The WV will have a subaccount with Envoke for the purpose of sharing information about the WV program through an electronic newsletter. It will distribute the newsletter on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, depending on the season (the higher frequency will be during the busy programming season, April-August). The newsletter may be used to promote upcoming events, recap past events, provide educational content through fun an informative trivia and/or articles and share wildlife news from the Department of Environment.
Wildlife Viewing Newsletter
Otter.AI
Otter.AI is a dual-purpose tool that captures recordings in electronic formals (i.e., Microsoft Teams meetings) and creates live transcripts for in-person meetings and training. This tool is used for the purpose of streamlining the Department of Environment's processes and ensure accuracy during information processing. This will not be a public facing software and for internal use only of the department.
Yukon Indigenous-led Conservation Capacity Fund (ICCF)
The objective of the Indigenous-led Conservation Capacity Fund (ICCF) is to provide resources to Indigenous partners to enhance their capacity to identify and prepare their conservation interests for use in future regional and sub-regional land use planning processes and potentially other discussions and agreements. In turn, that work is anticipated to support the pathway to conserving 30 percent of Yukon’s lands and waters by 2030. Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups will be invited to apply for funding through an “Expression of Interest” form that provides details of their proposed project. If successful, Government of Yukon will enter into a funding agreement with the government or group. The ICCF project is part of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement. It is a limited time initiative that will conclude in 2026.
Electronic and Online Licensing System (POSSE)
The Department of Environment implemented an Electronic Online Licensing System (EOLS) in 2015. The purpose of electronic licensing is to enable Yukon citizens and visitors to acquire various licenses, permits, and other authorizations through a self-serve, account-based, online service. EOLS was also implemented to provide the department with account-based administration of licenses and permits, including issuing authorizations through application-review-approval processes and receive approved authorizations online through their client accounts.
The department is moving toward a digital process for license and permit applications. A digital process will streamline the application and issuing process and mitigate human error. Additional benefits for a digital process include but is not limited to: implementation structured security measures, automating processes, provide more accessibility and control over their personal information within POSSE and provide staff more accessibility to process applications.
Yukon Parks Online Reservation System Project
In accordance with departmental mandate, the Yukon Parks branch has completed a new parks strategy to support the future planning and development of Yukon parks and campgrounds. The strategy includes the introduction of online reservation options to improve fair access to some campsites in some road accessible campgrounds. The online reservation covers the seven identified Yukon Campgrounds:
4 Front-country Campgrounds:
* Pine Lake Campground
* Tombstone Mountain Campground
* Marsh Lake
* Wolf Lake
3 Backcountry Campgrounds
* Grizzly Lake Campground
* Talus Lake Campground
* Divide Lake Campground
Wildlife Mortalities Service
The Department of Environment tracks wildlife mortality information from the different types of harvesting methods (i.e. hunting, trapping, outfitting) and human/wildlife conflict. The animals that must be reported for the activities are: big game animals, wolf, lynx, fox, wolverine, and any animal that is protected under the Wildlife Act. Currently, the Department of Environment is tracking wildlife mortality data through a paper-based process and is taking steps to become more digital in its processes for the ease of access to clients. The new Wildlife Mortalities Service system will replace the Harvest Database and this system will issue the Wildlife Export permits and communicate with the departmental licensing and permitting system (POSSE), SQL Server and AIMES system. The Wildlife Mortalities Service will also access data stored in the department's human-wildfire conflict reporting app. The communication between the systems will mitigate the need for clients to supply the department with the same information twice. This PIA will only focus on the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information involving the Wildlife Mortalities Service.
Fish and Wildlife Data Sharing Policy and Procedures
The Fish and Wildlife Branch (FWB) is implementing a data sharing policy to guide how ecological data is accepted from third parties, manage ecological data that have restrictions on the way they may be used, and share ecological data with others. In terms of informal data requests, the policy ensures that the way ecological data is accepted and shared will be in accordance with the ATIPP Act. FWB is committed to sharing ecological data as openly as possible, while ensuring that sharing this data does not negatively impact series and ecosystems, as well as the way to manage a sustainable harvest and the working relationship with others. This policy is needed to ensure that sharing of ecological data is consistent and transparent and the reasons why an informal data request may be denied.
Environment Trivia Games (Kahoot)
The Wildlife Viewing Program offers various activities and programs to the public to inform them about the Yukon wilderness. One of the activities include hosting a trivia night for members of the public. Due to the pandemic, the Wildlife Viewing Program was restricted from hosting certain in-person events for a couple of years. As a result, the trivia nights were converted into a digital process using Kahoot to host the trivia games. This also enabled Wildlife Viewing Program to reach a wider audience and limit the amount of in-person interactions (i.e. departmental staff no longer are required to circulate and collect papers from contestants).The Wildlife Viewing will utilize Kahoot software making it easier for Wildlife Viewing Program to disseminate information about Yukon wildlife to the public, and it is more engaging and fun for users. The Department of Environment will not collect any personal information, however, Kahoot does allow users to use its services with or without a Kahoot account. The PIA focuses on how the department will manage the data which may include personal information.
Drones Permitting Application
There has been an increase in the filming and photography professions to promote the Yukon’s wildlife and nature. Many professionals in these industries use drones in addition to other film and still-photo capturing devices, however, the Wildlife Act and its Regulations prohibits anyone from using drones to hunt wildlife. As a result, a new program is required to ensure that the filming and photography professionals are able to use drones in their industry and for the department to continue to administer the legislative requirements of the Wildlife Act and Regulations. This new initiative will introduce a new permitting application for the use of drones while capturing video footage and images of hunting wildlife. This new initiative is available for wildlife photography businesses to film or photograph the hunting of Yukon wildlife. The permit is free of charge.
Angler Fishing Survey Using Trail Cameras
Fish and Wildlife Branch (FWB) conducts angler surveys on multiple lakes and rivers throughout the Yukon during the open water season. Interviews are conducted by surveyors stationed at specified locations (i.e. boat launch) on randomly selected days throughout the summer and occasionally winter months. Summer angler surveys generally run from mid-May till beginning of September and winter surveys run from December till April. To supplement our current and future data, FWB is proposing using trail cameras in addition to in-person interviews. Angler surveys are designed to cover approximately 20-40% of total fishing days throughout a survey period. During analysis, the data is extrapolated to provide an estimate of total angler hours and fish caught/harvested. The data collected from the cameras will supplement our in-person data and better verify our current method of survey design/analysis. The initiative will take place on lakes/rivers that are suitable for capturing total anglers/boats launching during the survey hours (i.e. bottleneck access points and optimal field of view). The cameras will be programmed to take pictures of the access point to capture images of anglers launching boats or potentially fishing from shore.