The context of land use planning and the development and implementation of ecosystem-based management on the coast of British Columbia is defined to a large extent by the rights of aboriginal people. There are 35 First Nations whose traditional territories include land and water within the Central Coast, North Coast and Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. As a result, the negotiation of comprehensive treaties, protocol agreements, interim measures, consultation and First Nations’ land use planning are part-and-parcel of coastal planning.

In Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands the Haida Nation and Government of British Columbia agreed to a framework for land use planning in these remote islands. The public phase of the planning process was completed early in 2005. The Province and the Haida will conclude the plan.

The Central and North Coast LRMPs reached consensus agreements that were recommended to the British Columbia governments. Subsequently, the Province and coastal First Nations entered into a government-to-government process that reviewed the LRMP agreements prior to final decision-making by the provincial government.

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