Public Invited to Provide Feedback on Land Use Objectives for Sea to Sky Region

📅 5 days ago

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review and comment on proposed land use objectives in the Sea to Sky Region, aimed at protecting Indigenous cultural values and enhancing forestry operations.

Residents of the Sea to Sky Region are being invited to engage in a public consultation regarding proposed land use objectives, which, if approved, will serve to safeguard Indigenous cultural and environmental values while also fostering operational certainty for the local forestry sector. This initiative is part of the 2025 Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement (Phase 2). According to a recent release, the planning process has identified 33 Síiyamiin, or culturally and historically significant sites, encompassing over 4,250 hectares. Additionally, six special cultural management areas have been earmarked, covering more than 15,800 hectares that hold cultural and ecological significance.
The proposed land use objectives have been crafted in response to these identified areas and are set to be implemented under the Land Act. They address critical topics such as cultural heritage areas, old forests, mature forests, large cedar trees, riparian zones, wetland areas, and trees modified for cultural purposes. The implementation of these objectives is anticipated to protect nearly 7,250 hectares of forested land, which includes 925 hectares of deferred old-growth forest recognized in the Old Growth Strategic Review.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to review and comment on these proposed objectives until 4 p.m. on July 20. Interested parties can access the draft ministerial order, which includes maps and digital spatial files, through the official website at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/squamish-nation-land-use. For those who prefer physical copies, hard copies of the relevant documents and maps can be viewed at the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District office located at 101-42000 Loggers Lane in Squamish, as well as at the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District office at 7077 Duncan St. in Powell River.
Written feedback can be directed to the Regional Initiatives, Land Use Planning and Cumulative Effects Division within the South Coast region of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship at 200-10428 153rd St., Surrey, B.C. V3R 1E1, or via email at [email protected]. The comments gathered from this public engagement process will be reviewed and summarized, with results submitted to the statutory decision-maker by the end of 2026.

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