Whereas public lands in British Columbia are facing complex and cumulative pressures, with competing demands between stakeholders and ever-increasing impacts to wildlife and ecosystems, and in 2018 the Province of BC committed to work collaboratively with Indigenous governments, communities, and stakeholders to modernize land use planning, including collaborating with Indigenous governments in natural resource management that is informed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action; And whereas the advancement of land use planning through the Modernized Land Use Planning program to date has been limited, leaving many regions in BC without strategic direction or guidance on stewardship and management of public land and waters. With communities and local governments responding to proposals without the benefit of an integrated approach and knowledge of cumulative impacts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC add staffing to facilitate the completion of modernized land use planning, inclusive of the UNDRIP protocols endorsed by the Province of BC, by the end of 2024.
Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Continuing the modernization of land use planning with the involvement of First Nations, local governments and industry is a key mandate of the new Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship. Land use planning is an important component of resource management. It sets high-level direction to help define what can occur on the land base. Provincial public land accounts for 94 of BCs land base, and more than 90 of public lands are covered by an existing land use plan. Land use plans integrate objectives and strategies for land and resource uses, providing resource managers with a tool to manage land and natural resources, including forests, fish, wildlife, and waters. However, many of BCs existing land use plans are dated and no longer account for todays land and resource management challenges. Further, many plans were developed with little involvement of Indigenous Peoples. Todays land and resource management challenges require a renewed approach to land use planning. Key drivers include: - Reconciliation with Indigenous communities and the BC governments commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. - Ensuring communities and stakeholders are engaged in land and resource planning. - A growing economy and increased demand on natural resources and the need to balance economic, environmental,social, and cultural objectives. - Increasing complexity as a result of climate change and factors that affect the land base, including species-at-risk management, wildfires, flooding, and drought. - Addressing cumulative effects on natural resource values. The recent rebalancing of portfolios in the natural resource ministries allows the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship to focus its efforts and resources on creating an integrated approach to land management that includes partnerships with First Nations, collaboration with local government, and engagement with communities, stakeholders and the public. Where new planning processes have yet to begin, existing land use plans are still in place, which provide guidance for decision makers, while BCs Cumulative Effects Framework provides information on cumulative impacts to land and resources. We recognize that local governments have a unique perspective and interest in how lands are used and will continue to work with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and with local governments on the implementation of the modernized land use planning program. BCs Cumulative Effects Framework URL: https:www2.gov.bc.cagovcontentenvironmentnatural-resource-stewardshipcu…