Provincial land use decisions for the Central Coast and the North Coast will preserve some of the most spectacular, ecologically diverse regions in the world, including critical Spirit Bear habitat.
February 7, 2006
VANCOUVER – Provincial land use decisions for the Central Coast and the North Coast will preserve some of the most spectacular, ecologically diverse regions in the world, including critical Spirit Bear habitat, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.
The combined Central Coast and North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) areas are approximately 6.4 million hectares, or more than twice the size of Belgium. The total combined protected areas for these regions are approximately 1.8 million hectares, or more than three times the size of Prince Edward Island.
“The agreement reached on these areas represents an unprecedented collaboration between First Nations, industry, environmentalists, local governments and many other stakeholders in how we manage the vast richness of B.C.’s coast for the benefit of all British Columbians,” said Campbell. “The result is a strong marriage that balances the needs of the environment with the need for sustainable jobs and a strong economic future for coastal communities.
“Diverse interests have come together in a unique partnership that will support economic opportunity while preserving some of B.C.’s most spectacular wilderness areas and protecting habitat for a number of species, including the rare Spirit Bear. I want to thank all the groups who have shown vision, foresight and patience in bringing us to this historic day.”
These protected areas preserve some of the largest intact temperate rainforests in the world and conserve more than 200,000 hectares of the Spirit Bear’s habitat, including the more than 103,000 hectare Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy on Princess Royal Island. In short order, legislation will be introduced around these land use decisions to establish new protected areas and further sustainable logging practices in the region.
“This agreement brings an end to the long-standing resource-use conflicts over this land,” said KNT First Nations chairman Dallas Smith. “Now our people have a more active role in how and where business is done in our traditional territories, and we can move toward cultural, ecological and economic stability in this region.”
The decisions are particularly significant for the balance they bring between the environment and forest management. The land use decisions protect vast areas of temperate rain forest, while providing a unique framework called Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) for the industry to work in. These agreements set the stage for a collaborative model to fully implement EBM in these areas by 2009.
“I commend the provincial government for its commitment to this land use planning process,” said Heiltsuk Chief Ross Wilson “We’re looking forward to finalizing and implementing our land use agreements. Completion of the government-to-government land use agreements will ensure the well-being of the lands, waters and peoples within our Traditional Territories.”
The decisions pave the way for finalizing government-to-government land use agreements with First Nations. This will enable the formation of Land and Resource Forums allowing the Province and the First Nations to work together to finalize and implement land use plans that incorporate the cultural values and ecological and economic interests of the First Nations.
“For the past seven years Canadian Forest Products, Catalyst Paper Corporation, International Forest Products and Western Forest Products have worked with environmental groups, coastal stakeholders, First Nations, the Province and customers to achieve the outcome being announced today. This is a significant step forward, and increases certainty for all involved,” said Western Forest Products CEO Reynold Hert.
“These land use decisions are a historic step towards a new level of co-operation in British Columbia’s forests,” said Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell. “Government, First Nations, environmentalists, resource industries and communities have found common ground, and this continued collaboration will play an important role in our work ahead to fully implement these LRMPs.”
Greenpeace, ForestEthics and the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter, were intimately involved in building this collaborative solution for more than five years. These organizations are expressing strong support for the land use decisions reached between First Nations and the Province and are looking forward to its on-the-ground implementation.
The public planning process assessed ecological, social and economic values of the regions. Key elements of the planning decisions include identifying new protected areas, creating the Spirit Bear conservancy and adoption of ecosystem based management (EBM) that encourages conservation and sustainable land use practices. These elements demonstrate B.C.’s commitment to sustainable forest practices, something international markets are demanding.
The provincial government and First Nations have embarked on developing a new relationship based on mutual respect and the principles of recognition and reconciliation. Land and resource management plans and the opportunities they provide are an important part of that endeavour.
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Background Information
These land use decisions detail a vision for use and management of public provincial lands and resources. The decisions will guide the development of the final Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs) for the Central and North Coast of British Columbia and are based on recommendations from First Nations, resource-based industries, environmentalists, local governments and the people who live in these communities.
What the land use decisions provide:
Final land use zoning for:
Protected Areas:
The decisions establish more than 100 new protected areas, which emphasize habitat conservation, maintenance of biodiversity, and preservation of special landscape, recreation and cultural heritage features
The existing protected areas cover approximately 600,000 hectares and the new protected areas cover more than 1.2 million hectares, for a combined total area of approximately 1.8 million hectares.
This increases the percentage of B.C. that is protected to 13.81 per cent of the province. This means B.C. has one of the largest percentages of protected areas of any jurisdiction in the world, significantly higher than the UN goal of protecting 12 per cent of the land base.
Biodiversity Areas:
Biodiversity Areas allow for some resource development, while maintaining ecological diversity and function.
Commercial forestry and major hydro-electric activities are not permitted in these zones, while all other land uses, including mining and tourism activities, are allowed.
These zones cover three per cent of the Central Coast and 10 per cent of the North Coast.
Ecosystem Based Management Operating Areas:
EBM Operating Area Zones cover the balance of the plan area and allow for the full range of economic uses.
The focus of resource development within these areas is to apply a new innovative Ecosystem Based Management approach that will enhance community stability, encourage economic diversification and increase local employment, economic development and other benefits from resources.
These areas cover 68 per cent of the Central Coast and 66 per cent of the North Coast.
The Central Coast and North Coast LRMP plan areas:
Central Coast area: 4.7 million hectares – spans the coast of British Columbia from Bute Inlet in the south, to Princess Royal Island in the north and Tweedsmuir Park in the east. It will see 29 per cent of Crown land in the planning area set aside for protection, 68 per cent for all resource uses and an additional three per cent available for mining and tourism development.
North Coast area: 1.7 million hectares – spans the coast of British Columbia from Aristazabal Island in the south, to near Stewart in the north. It will see 24 per cent of Crown land in the planning area set aside for protection, 66 per cent for all resource uses and an additional 10 per cent available for mining and tourism development.
Total combined area: 6.4 million hectares – more than twice the size of Belgium.
Total combined protected areas: 1.8 million hectares – more than three times the size of Prince Edward Island.
The protected areas will preserve one of the world’s largest intact temperate rainforests, as well as protecting key habitats for the rare Spirit Bear.
The Planning Process:
The Central Coast planning process began in 1997, while the North Coast process began in 2002. Planning tables included key stakeholders, communities and First Nations. In May 2004, the Central Coast LRMP table signed off on its recommendations, while the North Coast planning table signed off its recommendations in February 2005. The Province then began detailed government-to-government discussions with more than 25 coastal First Nations to reach agreements. The discussions incorporate the cultural values and economic opportunities of the First Nations.
Ecosystem Based Management (EBM):
EBM is a new adaptive approach to managing human activities that ensures the coexistence of healthy ecosystems and communities. The intent of EBM is to support a sustainable economy while protecting a healthy ecosystem.
The EBM model that will be used in the Central Coast and North Coast is designed to address key local human and ecological values, including First Nations communities and cultures. It is also designed to address the large areas of intact old growth temperate rainforests on the Central and North Coast.
Key elements of EBM for the Central Coast and North Coast decisions are:
Establishment of a system of protected areas and reserves of various sizes to protect ecological and cultural heritage values.
Higher standards for key environmental values such as old growth, riparian areas, biodiversity, grizzly and black bear habitat, and salmon habitat.
Use of traditional, local, and scientific knowledge of natural ecological patterns and processes, their historic variability, and risk assessment to develop ecosystem-specific management targets.
Acknowledgement of Aboriginal interests in the plan areas through innovative approaches to LRMP implementation and collaborative protected areas management.
Engagement of local community representatives and stakeholders.
Establishment of new arrangements among First Nations, governments, and stakeholders.
Promotion of stability, certainty and long-term resource use.
