PROVINCE ANNOUNCES A NEW VISION FOR COASTAL B.C.

The B.C. government announced land use decisions for the Central Coast and North Coast today.

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;
Biodiversity Areas; and
Ecosystem Based Management Operating Areas.

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.

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Media contact:	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218	Liz Bicknell Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862

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