Nunavut is forsaking the principles of its own land-claim agreement by fast-tracking industrial development, such as deep-sea ports and mineral exploration, the World Wildlife Fund says.

The lack of balance between protection and development could cause irreparable damage to wildlife and their habitat, says Peter Ewins, director of species conservation with the organization.

Although the World Wildlife Fund applauds the recent agreement-in-principle reached by Ottawa and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., regarding 13 conservation areas, Ewins told CBC News Friday it would like to see the territory do even more.

"Some leaders in Nunavut are fast-tracking measures to bring in industrial development — whether it's deep-water ports or mining venturing — and there is no corresponding fast-tracking for any other conservation measures despite the core principles of the Nunavut land claim," Ewins said.

Nunavut should learn from the mistakes of the past, he said. Ewins pointed to Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, where he said 30 years of oil development has hurt communities and the caribou herds they rely on.

Nunavut Wildlife Management Board chair Joe Tigullaraq says his group has not received any complaints from the public about the pace of development.

However, the board is one of numerous bodies in Nunavut involved with wildlife and that can sometimes be a problem for communication, Tigullaraq said.