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VICTORIA – A new variance to the Kootenay-Boundary Higher Level Plan Order (HLPO) will enhance biodiversity, caribou habitat, and timber and recreational values in the northern part of the Golden Timber Supply Area, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“We continue to make improvements to our land-use planning,” said Bell.
“The approval of Variance 8 is an excellent example of the Province moving
forward on sustainable environmental management while consulting with
environmentalists, industry, First Nations and the public to ensure a long-term
solution.”
The land-use objectives in Variance 8 outline a
vision for an appropriate balance of social, economic and environmental
benefits and were developed in consultation with key stakeholders, such as
Wildsight and Wood River Forest Inc.
“This approach benefits all interested parties and
is a win-win solution,” said Wood River Forest manager Barrie Wagner. “We would
support and encourage future endeavours of a similar nature that may help
resolve land-use issues.”
“Wildsight has a long
history of working within our communities to achieve solutions that benefit
both people and the environment,” said John Bergenske, executive director of
Wildsight. “This variance follows a rewarding collaboration with Wood River
Forest Inc. that we hope to see continue into the future.”
Variance 8 allows
for the following adjustments to be made to the Kootenay-Boundary
Higher Level Plan:
Kootenay-Boundary Land-Use Plans are the result of
intensive planning dating back to the Commission on Resources and Environment
(CORE) Plans for the Kootenays in the early 1990s. These plans provided
land-use and policy recommendations to government.
There have been 8 variances to the Kootenay-Boundary HLPO
since it was established. Variances
include changes to the biodiversity and caribou objectives resulting from
improved resource mapping and to address forest fires, pine beetle issues and
economic opportunities.
Variance 8 is in effect as of Nov. 2, 2006.
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell) |
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