Morice LRMP Is Consistent with Provincial Government Policy for Land Use Planning and the New Relationship Between the Province of BC and First Nations
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Morice Land and Resource Management Plan A Component of British Columbia’s Land Use Strategy Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Integrated Land Management Bureau February 2007 Morice Land and Resource Management Plan Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Integrated Land Management Bureau February 2007 Executive Summary The Morice Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) encompasses approximately 1.5 million hectares in central northwestern British Columbia. The plan reflects the outcomes of two important processes: a two-year sector-based negotiation process that involved representation by 15 public and provincial government sectors and two First Nations. This process resulted in consensus agreement on a set of recommendations for the sustainable management of Crown land and resources for the plan area; and the Office of the Wet’suwet’en abstained from the consensus agreement, choosing to further their discussions through subsequent government-to-government negotiations with the Province. Lake Babine Nation/Nedo’ats Hereditary Chiefs and Yekooche First Nation also participated in government-to-government negotiations. The Morice LRMP is consistent with provincial government policy for land use planning and the New Relationship between the Province of BC and First Nations. There are four main sections to the plan: General Management Direction, Area Specific Management Direction, Protected Areas, and Implementation, Monitoring and Amendment. General Management Direction The General Management Direction applies to all values and resources on provincial Crown land and is a baseline for management. Objectives, measures and targets in the General Management Direction (GMD) apply throughout the LRMP area. The following resources and resource values are addressed in the GMD: Consultation Economic Values Community Values − Tourism − Community Resilience − Access − Cultural Heritage − Agriculture and Range − Hunting and Fishing − Botanical Forest Products − Settlement − Guide Outfitting − Visual Resources − Minerals and Energy − Recreation − Timber − Trapping Ecosystem Values − Biodiversity − Fish, Fish Habitat and Aquatic Ecosystems − Water − Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat − Air Quality − Invasive Organisms − Point Source Pollution − Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides Morice Land and Resource Management Plan – February 2007 i Area Specific Management The LRMP includes twenty geographic resource management zones (RMZ) which are distinct with respect to biophysical characteristics and resource issues: Morice Ranges – Nanika Lake Grease Trail Herd Dome Matzehtzel Mountain-Nex Lake Starr Creek Morice River Swan Lake – China Nose Bulkley River Tahtsa-Troitsa Community Recreation Forests Nankia River Morice Mountain Nadina/Owen Twinkle-Horsechain Lake Chain Friday Lake-Nakinilerak Lake-Hautête Lake Nadina River Morrison Lake Thautil-Gosnell Babine Lake East Arm Le Talh Giz (Old Fort Mountain) GMD applies in these zones. However, additional objectives, measures and targets were developed for certain resources or activities to reflect the specific values in each zone. There are two types of Area Specific RMZ: (a) no timber harvesting areas; and (b) areas where timber harvesting is permitted but other area-specific direction applies. Protected Areas These are areas that have been identified for their natural, cultural heritage and/or recreational values in accordance with the Provincial Protected Areas Strategy. Logging, mining and hydroelectric development are prohibited in all protected areas. A set of general objectives, measures and targets, separate from the GMD, has been developed to guide management within new protected areas. In total there are seven new protected areas, in addition to previously existing Provincial Parks and Ecological Reserves: Kidprice Lake Chain Tazdii Wiyez Bin (Burnie-Shea Lakes) Nadina Mountain Old Man Lake Babine Lake Marine Parks Morice Lake Atna River Implementation, Monitoring and Amendment Implementation of the Morice LRMP is the responsibility of provincial government agencies. An LRMP Plan Implementation and Monitoring Committee, as well as First Nations, will be involved in reviewing plan implementation to ensure that the plan direction is reflected in more detailed plans and operational resource management activities. The progress of LRMP implementation will be monitored and made available for First Nations and public review. Plan amendments will be considered in accordance with processes described in the LRMP and current provincial government policy. ii Morice Land and Resource Management Plan – February 2007 Table of Contents Minister’s Approval Letter Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... i Table of Contents......................................................................................................... iii List of Maps ............................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................ vi 1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................1 1.2 The Planning Process...............................................................................................1 1.2.1 Public and First Nations Participation ................................................................................1 1.2.2 Information and Analysis....................................................................................................3 1.3 Plan Area..................................................................................................................3 1.3.1 Bio-physical Description ....................................................................................................5 1.3.2 First Nations People............................................................................................................5 1.3.3 Historical Land Use ..........................................................................................................10 1.3.4 Economic Profile ..............................................................................................................11 1.4 Plan Structure and Content ....................................................................................12 2. Vision, Goals and Principles ........................................................................... 15 2.1 Vision.....................................................................................................................15 2.2 Goals ......................................................................................................................15 2.3 Principles................................................................................................................15 3. General Management Direction....................................................................... 17 3.1 Consultation ...........................................................................................................17 3.1.1 Morice LRMP Consultation Framework ..........................................................................17 3.2 Community Values................................................................................................22 3.2.1 Community Resiliency .....................................................................................................22 3.2.2 Cultural Heritage ..............................................................................................................25 3.2.3 Hunting and Fishing .........................................................................................................30 3.2.4 Settlement .........................................................................................................................31 3.2.5 Visual Resources ..............................................................................................................33 3.2.6 Recreation.........................................................................................................................42 3.3 Economic Values...................................................................................................54 3.3.1 Tourism.............................................................................................................................54 3.3.2 Access...............................................................................................................................57 3.3.3 Agriculture and Range......................................................................................................62 3.3.4 Botanical Forest Products .................................................................................................68 3.3.5 Guide Outfitting................................................................................................................76 3.3.6 Minerals and Energy.........................................................................................................77 3.3.7 Timber ..............................................................................................................................81