| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) encompasses 2.2 million hectares in Northwestern British Columbia. The plan represents the consensus reached by the participants of the Kalum LRMP planning table and the Provincial government decision regarding three areas where participants were unable to reach agreement. The plan is the result of a two phase process which started in 1992. The table was comprised of public stakeholders, First Nations and provincial and local government representatives. The Kalum LRMP is consistent with provincial government policy for land use planning, as described in the Provincial Land Use Charter (1992) and the policy document Land and Resource Management Planning, A Statement of Principles and Process (1993). There are three main sections to the plan: Description of the Plan Area, Management Direction, and Implementation and Monitoring. 1. Description of the Plan Area and Process: This section details the physical, social, and economic profile of the plan area and its communities. There is also a description of the ‘process’, including participation, the integration of Phase 1 of the LRMP, and the Thunderbird Integrated Resource Management Plan. 2. Management Direction: The plan creates three categories of management direction for the LRMP area: General Resource Management (GRM), Resource Management Zone (RMZ), Protected Areas. The GRM direction represents a baseline for resource activities on all Crown land outside Protected Areas. RMZ direction applies to geographically specific areas with distinct biophysical characteristics and resource issues. The GRM direction applies to all RMZs. RMZ direction provides additional management emphasis to those areas. A. General Resource Management Direction GRM direction applies to all values and resources on provincial Crown land and is a baseline for management. Objectives and strategies in GRM apply throughout the LRMP area, outside of Protected Areas. The following resources and resource values are addressed in GRM direction; Access Management; Fish and Fish Habitat; Agriculture; Fresh Water; Aquaculture and Marine Plant Harvesting; Outdoor Recreation; Biodiversity; Timber Harvesting and Silviculture; Botanical Forest Products; Tourism; Coastal Resources; Trapping; Cultural Heritage; Ungulate Winter Range; Geological and Energy Resources; Visual Resources; Grizzly Bear; Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats. B. Resource Management Zone Direction: The planning table has identified eleven RMZs which are distinct in terms of their biophysical characteristics and resource issues; Non-Motorized Backcountry Recreation; Upper Kitsumkalum; Marine Backcountry Recreation; Kowesas; Community Watersheds; Ascaphus Creek; Grizzly Bear Benchmark and Linkages; Upper Copper River; Lakelse River; Settlement Zone; Miligit Valley. GRM direction applies in these zones. However, additional objectives and strategies were developed for certain resources or activities to reflect the specific values in each zone. C. 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 and strategies, including acceptable uses separate from the GRM direction, has been developed to guide management within new Protected Areas. In total, the following twenty new Protected Areas have been approved, in addition to previously existing Provincial Parks, Recreation Areas and Ecological Reserves: Brim River; Kitsumkalum Lake North; Coste Rocks; Lakelse Lake wetlands (south end); Dala/Kildala River Estuaries; Lower Skeena River sites (islands at mouth of Exstew and Kasiks Rivers); Eagle Bay; Lundmark Bog; Exchamsiks River Park Expansion; Nabeelah Creek wetlands; Foch/Giltoyees Watersheds; Owyacumish River; Hai Lake – Mount Herman; Sleeping Beauty Mountain Area of Interest; Weewanie Hotsprings; Sue Channel/ Hawkesbury Island; Jesse Falls; Swan Creek; Kitimat River Ecological Reserve; Sue Channel/Loretta Island. Together these areas comprise approximately 67,397 hectares (3.2%) of the LRMP area. In addition the Gitnadoix Recreation Area (57,760 hectares or2.67% of the plan area) has been approved as Protected Area. Together, existing and new Protected Areas comprise approximately 462,956 hectares or 21.46% of the LRMP area. Two newly proposed Protected Areas (Exchamsiks and Brim River, totaling 2553 ha) include provisions for access through the protected area to support mineral exploration and development, where no practicable alternative for access exists. 3. Implementation and Monitoring: Implementation of the Kalum LRMP is the responsibility of provincial government agencies. An LRMP Monitoring Committee, including public stakeholders, First Nations, local and provincial government representatives, will be involved in reviewing plan implementation to ensure that the intent of the plan is being met. The Prince Rupert Interagency Management committee will regularly produce a monitoring report summarizing implementation progress and effectiveness. |
