NORTH CENTRAL LAND USE PLAN

	Enlarge Map

Since 2001, CPAWS has been working with northern people, government, industry and other provincial interest groups, to develop a land use plan for 3.5 million hectares of land in the North Central region of Saskatchewan. When completed, the plan will be used to guide and regulate human land uses that impact land, water, air, renewable and non-renewable resources of the North Central region.

The provincial government is preparing to issue a long-term forestry licence in the North Central planning area. The land use planning process began in response to local concerns about industrial logging, and to meet the requirements of the Forest Resources Management Act, which calls for completion of a land use plan before a major timber licence is issued.

The terms of reference for the North Central land use plan (NCLUP) state that an ecosystem-based approach will be used to develop an integrated and ecologically sound plan to ensure sustainable ecological, social, cultural and economic benefits for present and future generations.

CPAWS and other team members at the planning table have been attempting to develop an ecosytem-based plan that is based on:

• good information stemming from best science and best traditional knowledge of the land;
• cautious land use zoning and decision-making, recognizing that the NCLUP ecosystem is fragile, that there is a lot that humans don't know about the ecosystem, and there is much that we do know about impacts from industrial activities such as forestry, mining and roads on the land;
• modern planning techniques that mimic state of the art planning processes underway in other parts of the world. These modern processes include gathering good information and pursuing meaningful discussions and decision-making about human and ecological needs. Maintaining the long term healthy of the ecosytem is foundational to all planning decisions, and the needs of local people are always considered.

- Alan Appleby

In order to meet these three criteria, planning team members initiated a research project to gain a better understanding of the character and condition of the land, to understand what is needed to maintain a healthy forest, and to understand the viability forestry and other economic opportunities in the region.

In September 2004, a first draft of the research data was presented to the planning table. The planning process took a sudden turn the next day when government cancelled future meetings of the planning table and retreated to write the plan without input from the planning team. This effectively removed the forum by which citizens could collectively discuss the information and participate meaningfully in development of the land use plan.

CPAWS and a majority of the planning team members remain committed to developing an ecosystem based plan that will fulfill the requirements of the Terms of Reference. Our planning activities continue and the work plan for 2005 includes:

• collecting and analyzing additional ecological data with emphasis on obtaining and interpreting new land cover information that is expected from government by March 2005;
• collecting additional cultural and local knowledge;
• finalizing the economic analysis of timber management in the region; and
• analysing other economic opportunities in the region, beyond mining and forestry, including solutions to develop solid community economies.

Planning team members expect to share their information with government, other actively interested parties and the general public in the near future. We have initiated discussions with the Province to improve public consultation and to openly examine all information. It is unclear how things will come together. But we look forward to the time when an improved planning process will result in the development of a good land use plan that is broadly supported. We also look forward to an improved planning process that will result in confirmation of the validity of public participation in land use planning in Saskatchewan.

Click here for CPAWS submission to to Deputy Minister Stonehouse; North Central Land Use Planning Process: Issues and Solutions. January 2005.

LEARN MORE:

North Central Land Use Plan Background More information on the North Central Land Use planning process and CPAWS work.

CPAWS Work in the Forest An overview of CPAWS Saskatchewan's conservation work in the forest.

Special Places Read stories about special places in Saskatchewan including the North Central Region.

Churchill River An introduction to the Churchill River.