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Land Use Planning

The land use process was unprecedented, with many people from various backgrounds working toward a shared vision for the Great Bear Rainforest.

To safeguard the Great Bear Rainforest required land-use plans to guide where protected areas should be located and how forestry and other economic developments could proceed with minimal harm to the ecosystem.

This process involved the collaboration of 17 stakeholder sectors – including tourism operators, local and regional government and small business – that worked together at 'planning tables' developing land-use recommendations informed by science, community input and, where possible, First Nation expertise.

An individual representing ForestEthics, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network and the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter participated at two of these government-sponsored tables - one table for the Central Coast and one for the North Coast. The groups actively supported the planning table for Haida Gwaii (not formally part of the Great Bear Rainforest), but were not direct participants.

The land use process was unprecedented, with so many people from different backgrounds working toward a vision for the Great Bear Rainforest. Along the way, as expected, there were disagreements. But in good faith, the environmental groups stayed at the table intent on helping to guarantee ecologically strong land-use plans.

The ensuing land-use proposal for the Central Coast is among the strongest conservation packages in North America. The proposal for the North Coast is conditional on the resolution of several key issues, including what comprises a biodiversity area. Final land-use plans for these areas are expected by spring 2005, after negotiations between the BC government and First Nations are completed.

The Recommendations

Central Coast
After nearly seven years of negotiation, the members of the Central Coast planning table reached a consensus in December 2003. The table recommended that 1.5 million hectares (about 33 per cent of the plan area that totaled 4.6 million ha) remain off-limits to logging. Of the one million ha, 21.2 per cent was recommended for protection in the form of 21 new “Protection Areas” and several existing Protected Areas. In addition, several “Biodiversity Areas,” totaling 11.8 per cent of the plan area, were recommended.

These Biodiversity Area are off-limits to logging, but at the direction of the Province will remain open to mineral exploration and hydroelectric development. The agreed, primary purpose of these areas was the conservation of biological values. Any future development should be assessed within the framework of that objective.

Click here to learn more about the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. Or click here to see how stakeholders also agreed in principle to practice forestry using Ecosystem-Based Management principles.

North Coast
The planning table for the North Coast concluded in June 2004 with a “conditional consensus agreement.” Of the 1.7 million ha that comprise the region, approximately 24 per cent was recommended for protection, comprising 22 new Protection Areas and existing Protection Areas. These areas were proposed in addition to one existing protection area – the Khutzemateen. Also recommended were Biodiversity Areas, totaling 11.5 per cent of the area and the application of Ecosystem-Based Management over the land base. More information on the North Coast Land and Resource Managment Plan is available here.

photos: Adrian Dorst (banner), Dennis Crockford (centre)

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Land Use Planning

Navigation History of the Campaign Building a Solution Independent Science Collaboration with First Nations Dialogue with Industry Investing in Communities Land use planning The Groups Threats to the ecosystem Threats to Communities Current Status Search Site Advanced Search… Document Actions Send this page Print this page	Land Use Planning The land use process was unprecedented, with many people from various backgrounds working toward a shared vision for the Great Bear Rainforest.
	You are here: Home - The Campaign - Building a Solution - Land use planning Document Actions Send this page Print this page Land Use Planning The land use process was unprecedented, with many people from various backgrounds working toward a shared vision for the Great Bear Rainforest. To safeguard the Great Bear Rainforest required land-use plans to guide where protected areas should be located and how forestry and other economic developments could proceed with minimal harm to the ecosystem. This process involved the collaboration of 17 stakeholder sectors – including tourism operators, local and regional government and small business – that worked together at 'planning tables' developing land-use recommendations informed by science, community input and, where possible, First Nation expertise. An individual representing ForestEthics, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network and the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter participated at two of these government-sponsored tables - one table for the Central Coast and one for the North Coast. The groups actively supported the planning table for Haida Gwaii (not formally part of the Great Bear Rainforest), but were not direct participants. The land use process was unprecedented, with so many people from different backgrounds working toward a vision for the Great Bear Rainforest. Along the way, as expected, there were disagreements. But in good faith, the environmental groups stayed at the table intent on helping to guarantee ecologically strong land-use plans. The ensuing land-use proposal for the Central Coast is among the strongest conservation packages in North America. The proposal for the North Coast is conditional on the resolution of several key issues, including what comprises a biodiversity area. Final land-use plans for these areas are expected by spring 2005, after negotiations between the BC government and First Nations are completed. The Recommendations *Central Coast* After nearly seven years of negotiation, the members of the Central Coast planning table reached a consensus in December 2003. The table recommended that 1.5 million hectares (about 33 per cent of the plan area that totaled 4.6 million ha) remain off-limits to logging. Of the one million ha, 21.2 per cent was recommended for protection in the form of 21 new “Protection Areas” and several existing Protected Areas. In addition, several “Biodiversity Areas,” totaling 11.8 per cent of the plan area, were recommended. These Biodiversity Area are off-limits to logging, but at the direction of the Province will remain open to mineral exploration and hydroelectric development. The agreed, primary purpose of these areas was the conservation of biological values. Any future development should be assessed within the framework of that objective. Click here to learn more about the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. Or click here to see how stakeholders also agreed in principle to practice forestry using Ecosystem-Based Management principles. *North Coast* The planning table for the North Coast concluded in June 2004 with a “conditional consensus agreement.” Of the 1.7 million ha that comprise the region, approximately 24 per cent was recommended for protection, comprising 22 new Protection Areas and existing Protection Areas. These areas were proposed in addition to one existing protection area – the Khutzemateen. Also recommended were Biodiversity Areas, totaling 11.5 per cent of the area and the application of Ecosystem-Based Management over the land base. More information on the North Coast Land and Resource Managment Plan is available here. photos: Adrian Dorst (banner), Dennis Crockford (centre)