Revelstoke Higher Level Plan
The Kootenay/Boundary region has an extensive history of land and resource development and conservation and associated planning activities. The Revelstoke area was included in a regional planning process for the West Kootenay/Boundary area which was initiated by the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) in January 1993. Planning tables, comprised of representatives from key interests, worked collaboratively with government representatives and developed recommendations on land use and policy direction.
In November 1994, CORE released the West Kootenay Boundary Land Use Plan which included the Revelstoke area. The plan provided recommendations on land use and policy. The report predicted that timber supply could be reduced by as much as 40% if recommendations were accepted. The citizens of the Revelstoke area expressed concerns regarding plan recommendations and requested government set up a forum for citizens to develop community recommendations.
The Revelstoke Minister's Advisory Committee met regularly between October 1995 and October 1999 and developed a report called "Revelstoke and Area Land and Resource Management Planning Final Recommendations". The recommendations were the committee's attempt to achieve a fair balance of risks among all resources and resource users. The recommendations were forwarded to Ministry of Forests and were endorsed by the Minister of Forests. It was also indicated that this would include development of an appropriate higher level plan order considering the advisory committee's recommendations.
In March 2005, government released the "Revelstoke Higher Level Plan Order". The order brought into force legal objectives in regards to the key values of biodiversity, caribou and grizzly bears. These objectives provide direction to forest licensees subject to forest legislation such as the Forest Range and Practices Act. These plan objective have been established under Section 3 of the Forest Practices Code Act of British Columbia and remain in force under Section 93.8 of the Land Amendment Act.
For further information regarding Land and Resource Management Planning in the Revelstoke area or application of higher level plan objective, please contact Frank Wilmer of the Integrated Land Management Bureau.
