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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.

The land use planning process in the Central and North Coast that were concluded in 2003 and 2004 were 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 BC 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.

Along the way, as expected, there were disagreements. But in good faith, the environmental groups stayed at the table with the intention to guarantee ecologically strong land-use plans.

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.
Click here to learn more about the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan.

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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	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. The land use planning process in the Central and North Coast that were concluded in 2003 and 2004 were 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 BC 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. Along the way, as expected, there were disagreements. But in good faith, the environmental groups stayed at the table with the intention to guarantee ecologically strong land-use plans. 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. Click here to learn more about the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. 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)