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Cabinet opts for "conservation" option for Lillooet LRMP

One week after the legislature closed, one day before Premier Ujjal Dosanjh announced a spring election, and more than 60 years after campaigns to protect the South Chilcotin Wilderness began, the government approved in principle a plan that will inc

One week after the legislature closed, one day before Premier Ujjal Dosanjh announced a spring election, and more than 60 years after campaigns to protect the South Chilcotin Wilderness began, the government approved in principle a plan that will increase both protected areas and timber harvesting in the Lillooet Land and Resource Management Plan.

"This decision is based on five years of hard work by people who want a plan that is good for the environment, working people and communities," said Dosanjh in an April 17 press release. Dosanjh and Environment, Lands and Parks Minister Ian Waddell made the announcement while releasing government’s decision on Phase 1 of the Lillooet LRMP, which covers a 1.1 million hectare area.

"It protects an outstanding southern interior wilderness known as the Southern Chilcotin Mountains, B.C.’s longest-standing unresolved land-use dispute," said the premier. "And it provides a base for the next phase of planning so working families and communities can enjoy greater resource certainty and economic opportunity."

The announcement wraps up more than five years of dialogue among various groups with interests in the area, representing First Nations, resource industries such as forestry and mining, the environment and conservation, recreation and tourism, agriculture, and local and regional governments.

While stakeholders could agree over the majority of the land base, there was some dissension among conservation and industry over more than a dozen key areas within in the LRMP area, including the South Chilcotins.

Unable to come to a consensus, the debate between conservation and industry went to "options", a process whereby proponents for both sides of the issue are invited to submit their ideas for the plan to the provincial cabinet, which makes the final decision. Cabinet chose the conservation option.

"We commend the people at the Lillooet planning table for their commitment to closing the gap between different interests and recommendations," said environment minister Ian Waddell. "The work people have done through mediation demonstrates that participants saw the need to make a decision on Phase 1 and committed themselves to completing this land-use plan during Phase 2."

According to LRMP co-ordinator Phil Whitfield, Phase 1 is about drawing lines on the map. Phase 2 will involve "colouring" those areas in, defining the activities which can and cannot take place. Phase 1 is generally the most difficult part of the plan because it requires table members to reach a consensus. Phase 2 is expected to be completed by this time next year.

The conservation option was drafted by Lillooet LRMP table members representing conservation, recreation and community interests, including the Sierra Club of B.C., the Federation of Mountain Clubs of B.C, the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C., the Southern Chilcotin Mountains Wilderness Society, the Federation of Cottage Owners (Gun Lake Ratepayers), Chilcotin Holidays Guest Ranch and Guide Outfitters, and Bill Spence and Mike Kennedy of the Community Resources Board.

Recommendations in the conservation option include:

• 14 new protected areas, including the 71,400 hectare Southern Chilcotin Mountains. This includes Spruce Lake, a popular recreation area. The protected area includes five major valleys with old-growth fir and spruce, which is habitat for grizzly and black bears, California bighorn sheep, and other wildlife. Along with the existing protected areas in the Lillooet LRMP, the amount of protected area has been increased by 6 per cent to 211,000 hectares, almost 19 per cent of the LRMP area.

• Resource management zones: 81 per cent of the land base is available for resource development, with 38 per cent of land dedicated to industrial activities such as forestry, mining, tourism and agriculture. The plan also recommends that the level of management in these zones has to be more specific than the current regime, taking into account other uses and land values. Far from limiting the forestry industry, the conservation option will also allow forestry companies to increase their allowable annual cut rate, which is currently below the sustainable level.

• First Nations deferral areas: This area will be deferred for further consultation among First Nations and other stakeholders interests, but will focus on reaching agreement on land use and developing economic opportunities for First Nations communities through the treaty negotiation process.

"This decision ensures a viable land-base for the already strong and growing wilderness recreation industry in the area, with minimal impact on the region’s important resource sectors," said Waddell. "It’s a decision that reflects the goal and desire of the land-use participants to reach a workable consensus.

Bert Brink, the director of the B.C. Federation of Naturalists and an advocate for conservation in the Southern Chilcotin Mountains since 1937, was just one of the forces for conservation that celebrated the government’s decision.

"The Southern Chilcotin Mountains embrace a remarkable panorama of beauty and diversity," said Brink. "These mountains have been embroiled in resource conflicts for half a century, and their designation for protection by our provincial government is indeed a momentous achievement."

The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment has also been involved in the campaign to protect key areas within the Lillooet LRMP and is also pleased with cabinet’s decision to accept the conservation package. But with an election on the horizon and a change of governments likely, they will be watching Phase 2 closely.

"The Liberals have indicated that they will respect the land use decisions from an LRMP table, so we have to make sure that they do respect this decision. We’re still concerned and interested in a number of the Phase 1, Phase 2 and First Nation deferral areas," says AWARE director Eckhard Zeidler.

"It’s definitely a step in the right direction and we’re really pleased with everyone in the province, and especially for people who have been involved in this campaign for 60 years. A lot of people in Whistler spoke up and wrote letters and made submissions to the provincial government, and it made a huge difference. AWARE’s thanks go out to everybody who made their voice heard."

You can view the conservation option and the proposed map that goes with it at the Sierra Club of B.C. Web site – www.sierraclub.ca/bc/Campaigns/Lillooet/Action_Lillooet.html.