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| Original News Release |
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| Original News Release |
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Ministry of Agriculture and Lands |
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NEW VISION FOR COASTAL B.C. – TWO YEARS LATER |
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Since the Feb. 7, 2006 announcement, the Province has
followed through on the following commitments:
Strategic
Land-Use Planning Agreements
As an outcome of the Central and North
Coast strategic land-use planning processes, the Province signed strategic
land-use planning agreements with First
Nations building on a Protocol signed with Coastal First Nations and an
agreement in principle signed with Nawakolas
First Nations. The following First Nations have signed land use planning
agreements with the Province:
Coast
Opportunity Fund
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In January
2007, the provincial and federal governments joined with an alliance of private
philanthropic groups to establish the Coast Opportunities Fund (COF). This fund
grew out of the Conservation Investments and Incentives Initiative (CIII) that
was advanced during the land use planning negotiations associated with the
Central and North Coast.
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The Province
and the federal government each contributed $30 million, while the
philanthropic groups gave $60 million, for a total investment of $120 million.
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The combined
federal-provincial contribution to the COF is directed toward economic
development opportunities for First Nations businesses involved in activities
such as sustainable fisheries, forestry and tourism. The matching private
funding provides an endowment fund for conservation management and research.
EBM Working
Group
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Established and funded.
Land
and Resource Forums
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In March
2006, the Province signed an Agreement in Principle with the Nanwakolas First Nations and
a protocol with the Coastal First Nations (Turning Point).
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These
government-to-government land-use and protocol agreements include the formation
of Land and Resource Forums that allow the Province and First Nations to work
together to finalize and implement land-use plans for the Central Coast and
North Coast and develop EBM objectives.
Two-Thirds of New Conservancies Established
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Twenty-four
conservancies, totalling approximately 541,000 hectares, were established under
the Park Act in July 2006.
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A second group of 41
conservancies, containing approximately 162,000 hectares, was established in
May 2007.
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Forty-nine conservancies
and additions to two existing conservancies remain to be established and are
proposed for the spring 2008 session of the legislature.
Conservancy
Management Agreements
Collaborative Management Agreements have been signed
with 10 First Nations and are being implemented. Agreements have been signed
with the following First Nations:
Pre-existing collaborative agreements with the
Heiltsuk (Hakai), Haisla (Kitlope) and Gitsii (Khutzeymateen) remain in place.
Conservancy
Management Planning and Field Operations
Management planning is underway for 20 conservancies,
with the first plan approvals expected in the summer of 2008. Conservancy field
operations were undertaken in 2007 for all established conservancies. Eight
First Nation park rangers from coastal communities were employed during the
field season.
Focal
Species Inventory and Mapping
Extensive focal species inventory, mapping and legal
designations have been implemented in support of implementing the legal
objectives. This work is planned to continue through 2008. Work includes
grizzly bear critical habitat mapping, marbled murrelet suitability mapping,
northern goshawk surveys and tailed frog surveys. As well, a number of wildlife
habitat areas have been designated for grizzly bear and marbled murrelet, and
ungulate winter ranges established for mountain goat.
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell) |
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