Provincial Land Use Planning: Which way from here?

Strategic land use planning can touch on all aspects of natural resource management. At the Forest Practices Board, our interest lies in the implications of that planning on forest and range practices. The Board reports on compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and achievement of its intent. This legislation, and the management regime surrounding it, are critical tools in implementing strategic land use plans.

In BC, the era of comprehensive, provincial scale strategic land use planning based on a consensus-seeking model is drawing to a close. The initial goal set in 1992, of doubling the protected areas system, has been achieved and exceeded. However, we have fallen short of the goal of implementing “comprehensive land and water use planning” based on “local involvement and shared decision making.