NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008AL0015-000536 April 16, 2008	Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
SEA-TO-SKY PLAN PROMOTES BALANCE, SUSTAINABILITY

VICTORIA – The Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management planning process is now complete, paving the way for full implementation, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell announced today.

 

“We have worked on a government-to-government basis with local First Nations over several years to make sure the 2004 Sea-to-Sky LRMP recommendations are in harmony with their vision for land stewardship,” said Bell. “This final version now resolves the longstanding land-use conflicts in the Elaho, Sims and Douglas Creek areas. It provides certainty and greater stability to the region, allowing for local economic development while ensuring long-term sustainability of ecological values.” 

 

The Sea-to-Sky plan and agreements cover an area spanning the headwaters of the Lillooet River to its outflow into Harrison Lake, and from Lions Bay and Indian Arm to D’arcy. The area includes the communities of Pemberton, Squamish, and Whistler, and will play host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It covers approximately 1,091,000 hectares, and hosts a diverse array of cultural values, wildlife and wilderness features, and recreational opportunities.

 

The LRMP, now modified to reflect First Nations’ land-use agreements, provides management direction for a wide variety of these features and values, including:

• New conservancies in the Upper Elaho Valley, 100 Lakes Plateau, Upper Callaghan Valley, Upper Soo Valley, Upper Birkenhead Valley, Twin Two Creek and Upper Rogers Creek;
• Cultural places and cultural management areas, where resource management must maintain the cultural values and interests of First Nations;
• Wildland zones, where mineral development and tourism are permitted and maintaining cultural, recreational, and wilderness values is the focus;
• The frontcountry area, which follows the major transportation routes in the plan area and where visual quality and recreation values are key considerations; and
• Grizzly bear, mountain goat and marbled murrelet habitat, as well as riparian and floodplain ecosystems.

 

Four First Nations groups, the Lil’wat Nation, In-SHUCK-ch Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Squamish Nation, participated in government-to-government negotiations. In addition, a community-based planning forum, with sector representation by agriculture, environment, forestry, labour, recreation, tourism, energy, mineral resources and aggregates, provided input and direction, along with representatives from municipal governments and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

 

            “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the First Nations and community and industry groups who contributed their time and energy to making this planning process a success,” said West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre. “First Nations as well as area recreation, business and environmental groups now have a framework for collaborative and sustainable land management.”

 

The public is invited to view the final LRMP document, discuss the implementation and talk to planning representatives at the following open houses:

 

 

Strategic plans, such as this LRMP, are a component of the provincial government’s approach to land use and resource development.  Not only do  agreements such as these demonstrate the Province’s desire to forge a New Relationship based on the respect, reconciliation and recognition of Aboriginal rights and titles, but these plans provide strategic direction for the development and use of lands and resources, including forestry, tourism, mineral exploration, energy production, and recreation.

 

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Media contact:	Liz Bicknell Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell)
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