Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

LAND USE PLAN RATIFIED!

KELOWNA After four-and-a-half years of round table meetings and negotiations, 30 public stakeholders ratified a Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Okanagan and Shuswap region on September 9th, 2000. The plan provides certainty for resource management on over 2.5 million hectares of Crown land in this region.

Highlights of the plan include: the establishment of over 50 new parks; zones that provide for sensitive resource management for wildlife, water, recreation and scenic views; and follow-up committees that will allow for continued involvement by the public in resource management. A social, environmental and economic analysis that was done on the plan shows that it provides better protection for environmental values without negatively impacting the region’s economy.

The success of the LRMP was due to the time and effort that the table representatives and government staff dedicated to the process. Several table representatives offered their endorsements upon the plan’s completion:

"EarthCare is extremely pleased to have participated in a process that will provide a lasting legacy to all the residents of the Okanagan-Shuswap area," said Lloyd Manchester of Canadian EarthCare Society.

"This document is the start of a new era in forest Management for the Okanagan-Shuswap. It has been a pleasure to work with so many dedicated people," added Don Couch representing Shuswap-Okanagan Forestry Association.

"After seven years of rehabilitating and maintaining the Myra Canyon trestles, we are delighted that the Myra Bellevue Park will be a reality," said Ken Campbell from the Myra Canyon Trestle Society. "And other areas of the valley with special features will receive the protection they need for the benefit of present and future generations."

Ron Taylor, from the B.C. Wildlife Federation, said, "We are pleased to see a plan that will give wildlife a better habitat to live in."

"The success of this process shows what cooperation instead of confrontation can achieve," Jim Cooperman, Shuswap Environmental Action Society, pointed out. "Residents of the region should be proud of this plan that will help to ensure economic and environmental sustainability for future generations."

"I’m very pleased to see so many new parks incorporated in the plan, giving the opportunity for increased tourism," said Tourism North’s Gary Hazell. "It has been a pleasure to work with the various sectors and table representatives for the past four-and-a-half years and realize the total support we have for tourism in the Okanagan-Shuswap."

Now that the LRMP public process has been completed, the plan will go to government for approval. The next step will be the preparation of a Higher Level Plan that will provide legal authority to components of the Land and Resource Management Plan. It is hoped that the legislation needed to turn the proposed protected areas into Class A parks will be passed during the next sitting of the legislature.

Contact:

Steve Carr
Process Coordinator
Ph: (250) 558-1700

For Immediate Release

September 11, 2000