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The NORTHERN LAND USE INFORMATION SERIES

 

Building the baseline for integrated resource development for Canada
North of 60 Degrees

Initiated in 1971, the primary objective of the Northern Land Use Information Series Program (NLUIS) was to produce an integrated regional overview of the main environmental and social aspects of present land use patterns in northern Canada.

The information was published as a map and text based information reference system to assist in land use planning and managing of northern development, in particular, to support DIAND administrators in identifying potential land-use conflict priority areas, and processing land-use applications related to the Territorial Land Use Regulations.

Jointly funded by DIAND and DOE with the participation of other federal and territorial government departments and agencies (e.g. DFO, NRCan, AAFC, GNWT, CWS etc.), the Northern Land Use Program operated from 1971 until the devolution of the Program in 1990. The Land Resources and Data Systems Branch of the Lands Directorate (Jean Thie, Director), Environment Canada was responsible for the coordination of the Program. Coordinators at the national level included Hiram Beaubier, Ken Taylor, Garry McLean, Jennifer Moore and John R. Reid. The sheer size of the inventory required the expertise and input of hundreds of researchers ,   involvement  of    communities and local experts to integrate local and traditional knowledge  in the mapping making.

The map information, presented in text and map form, includes a wide range of environmental-social topics including wildlife, fish resources, traditional land use, ecological land and coastal classification, and socio-economic and cultural data. Separate component reports, related to the NLUIS, were also published. Between 1972 and 1986, the NLUIS program produced 356 maps at a scale of 1:250,000, 14 published reports, and 13 contracted reports and papers. The NLUIS covered over 3,000,000 sq. km. and includes all of the Yukon, mainland NWT and Nunavut, and two-thirds of Baffin Island. The NLUIS maps for Central Baffin were surveyed but never published. On-going evaluation of the Series occurred (e.g. recreation-tourism potential evolved into a regional assessment of ecological districts).

Dr. Peter Schut responsible for the Canadian Soil Information System in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada played a key role in ensuring that NLUIS maps and extensive descriptions are now available on line via the link below.      

Link to the original printed NLUIS maps now available as digital files 


Example of NLUIS Map: Hoare Bay NTS 16E & 16D

Brochure  Northern land use map series



Areas North of 60 degrees covered by NLUIS maps  

This index is also available as KML file 

Map index Northern land use map series


Strategic Significance of NLUIS: Then and Now


NLUIS was designed as a systematic Northern complement to the Canada Land Inventory Program(CLI), which completed  comprehensive multi-disciplinary mapping of Canada’s settled lands.   The National CLI coordinators responded to the rapidly increasing needs for systematic environmental and socio-economic information in support of sound northern development  and to respond to major Northern Projects ( Mackenzie Pipeline, Beaufort Sea, Lancaster Sound etc.) with the development of this rapid reconnaissance  survey.  NLUIS, based on lessons learned from the CLI, included for the first time an integrated survey approach and  significant use of traditional knowledge for mapping land and water use and habitat values around communities.
The maps have retained much of their value as strategic reconnaissance tools. In the first place as a consistent baseline across most of the North. In the second place as direct inputs in Strategic , Regional and Cumulative Environmental Assessments, and as base to facilitate community participation in  Integrated land Use Planning . 

NLUIS as  a Data Source
The NLUIS data set represents one of the more unique pieces of northern environmental, land activity and socio-economic data.  Limited distribution of the series has resulted in many people being unaware of the NLUIS map series.  Even those who are somewhat familiar with the map series may not be aware of the significant amount of data that can be found on each and every map sheet, and that together they form an extensive coverage of the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut – on and offshore.

The data shown in the sample map reveal that there is a straight-forward map representation of features in polygons and symbolization.  The inherent complexity and detail of the NLUIS data are revealed in the extensive attribute data that are connected to each and every map feature.   In addition the inclusion of local and traditional knowledge is reflected in comprehensive narrative descriptions. 


Brochure  Northern land use map series