{"id":209,"date":"2023-01-31T17:13:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T22:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/chapter\/__unknown__-13\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T20:13:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T00:13:59","slug":"protected_areas","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/chapter\/protected_areas\/","title":{"raw":"Parks and other Protected Areas","rendered":"Parks and other Protected Areas"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">This Learning Module describes lands designated as parks and other protected areas under British Columbia (BC) legislation, which is one of two distinct perspectives on protected areas in British Columbia. The other distinct perspective is Indigenous-led protected areas, which is covered under a complementary Learning Module on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Learning Module<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"textbox__content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/chapter\/farmland_protection_canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">The term \u201cprotected area\u201d is most readily associated with provincial parks.\u00a0 However, under BC legislation, \u201cprotected areas\u201d should be understood as a general term that refers to lands that are protected with varying degrees of purpose, scope and strength, and enabled under different legislative frameworks.\u00a0 Accordingly, this module covers the breadth of protected areas in BC under the following three categories:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Protected lands (covers 15.4% of BC);<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Resource exclusion areas (covers 12.4% of BC);<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Spatially managed areas (covers 24.5% of BC).[footnote]As stated by the Ministry, these categories are intended to be treated independently and the percentages of area designated should not be summed across categories.[\/footnote]<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">The BC Government describes these types of protected areas as land designations that contribute to conservation.\u00a0 These designations include spatially-defined areas established through legislation or purchased for the following purposes:\u00a0 protection of nature and cultural values; conservation of biological diversity and ecosystem services; and management of natural resources.\u00a0 The latter aims to balance conservation and economic opportunities.\u00a0 In this sense, conservation is more general than protected areas.\u00a0 We use the latter term because it is more common within the field of land use planning.<\/p>\r\nThe information below about the three categories of protected areas draws from on-line information of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in particular:\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>BC Parks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.gov.bc.ca\/soe\/indicators\/land\/land-designations.html#details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Land &amp; Forests:\u00a0 Land Designations that Contribute to Conservation in BC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\">And the corresponding reports:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 54pt\">BC Parks (2015). <em>Summary of Protected Area Designations and Activities<\/em>. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 54pt\">Environmental Reporting BC (2017). <em>Land Designations that Contribute to Conservation in B.C.<\/em> Victoria, British Columbia: State of Environment Reporting, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nBC Parks describes relevant acts and regulations for protected areas on the following page: <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/legislation.html\">https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/legislation.html<\/a>.\u00a0 Relevant acts and regulations include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>Ecological Reserve Act and Regulations<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>Park Act and Regulations<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing Act<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>Ministry of Environment Act<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNote that, in addition to protected areas established under BC legislation, the province is also home to national protected areas.\u00a0 These areas are designated under federal legislation including <em>Canada<\/em><em> National Parks Act<\/em>, <em>Canada Wildlife Act<\/em>, and <em>Migratory Birds Convention Act<\/em>.\u00a0 These protected areas include National Parks, National Wildlife Areas, and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Protected<\/strong> <strong>Lands<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">This Module began by stating that \u201cprotected areas\u201d refers to more than just provincial parks.\u00a0 What people are most familiar with and commonly associate with provincial parks are most likely to be Class A Provincial Parks.\u00a0 As will be covered, there are other options included under protected lands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Key facts<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Strathcona Provincial Park, located in the heart of Vancouver Island, was BC\u2019s first provincial park. It was established on March 1, 1911. Mount Robson Provincial Park was established on March 1, 1913.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>As part of Canada\u2019s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, signed in 1992, the Government of Canada committed to protecting 17% of lands by 2020.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In 1993, the Protected Areas Strategy was approved, thereby committing BC to protect at least 12% of its land base. These goals were incorporated in the provincial strategic land use planning processes, in particular, Land and Resource Management Plans (refer to the Learning Module on regional land use planning). This effort led to the doubling of the amount of land in parks and protected areas by 2000.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In 2010, BC committed to protecting 17% of its land by 2020.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In 2019, the Government of Canada committed to protect 25% of Canada\u2019s lands (and oceans) by 2025.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nFor more details, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">history of parks in BC<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Parks and protected areas are lands administered by BC Parks.\u00a0 The primary purpose is to ensure the long-term conservation of nature and cultural values.\u00a0 As summarised in Table 1, in addition to three classes of provincial parks, protected lands also include recreation areas, conservancies, designations under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em>, and ecological reserves.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Table 1.\u00a0 Parks and Protected Areas System Administered by BC Parks<strong><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><\/strong>(as of December 15, 2015)<\/p>\r\n\r\n<table style=\"width: 341.75pt\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Designation <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Number<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Area (ha)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class A Parks<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">630<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">10,550,666<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class B Parks<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">2<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">3,778<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class C Parks<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">13<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">484<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Recreation Areas<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">2<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">5,929<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Conservancies<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">158<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">3,008,865<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Designated protected areas under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act <\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">84<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">384,798<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Ecological Reserves<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">148<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">160,292<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Total <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">1,037<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">14,114,812<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Source:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/park-designations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BC Parks<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3><\/h3>\r\n<h3 class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong><em>Designations<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96344_01\"><em>Park Act<\/em><\/a> [RSBC 1996] Chapter 344 enables the provincial government to declare the following designations for Crown land.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Classification of parks, conservancies and recreation areas<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">5(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a) establish an area of Crown land as a Class A, Class B or Class C park, or as a conservancy or recreation area, or<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) designate land in a park, conservancy or recreation area as a designated wildland area,<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Additional powers for Crown land<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">6 \u00a0 (1) If<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a) an order has been made in respect of Crown land under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96117_01\"><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) Crown land has been designated as green belt land under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96176_01\"><em>Greenbelt Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(c) Crown land is a heritage site under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96187_01\"><em>Heritage Conservation Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(d) land is leased to the government or to an agent of the government for public outdoor recreation,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(e) land is owned by a person who has entered into an agreement with the government or with an agent of the government respecting the use of the land for outdoor recreation,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(f) land is owned by a person who has entered into an agreement with the government or an agent of the government respecting the conservation, preservation or protection of the land or an amenity in relation to it,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(g) a trail, path or waterway owned by the government is available for use by the public as a trail or path, or as a waterway for canoes or small boats, or<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(h) Crown land is established or continued as an ecological reserve under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96103_01\"><em>Ecological Reserve Act<\/em><\/a> or by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00017_00\"><em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order made under this and any other applicable Act, authorize the minister to manage and administer the land, or the trail, path or waterway, or the interest of the government in it.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><strong>Class A Park<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">As per the <em>Park Act<\/em> (5(3)), a Class A park is \u201cdedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.\u201d\u00a0 Class A parks can be established by either order in council under the <em>Park Act <\/em>or by inclusion in a schedule to the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Uses of Class A parks are managed under the <em>Park Act<\/em>, which set conditions for issuing park use permits.\u00a0 A defining characteristic of a Class A park is that a park use permit can be issued only if, as per s. 8(2) of the <em>Park Act<\/em>, \u201cto do so is necessary to preserve or maintain the recreational values of the park involved.\u201d\u00a0 On the date a park is established, activities already authorized by the province may be allowed to continue, excluding commercial logging, mining, and hydro electric development.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Class B Park<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Class B parks are established by order in council under the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A Class B park is similar to Class A parks except when issuing a park use permit. \u00a0Under s. 8(4) of the <em>Park Act<\/em>, a park use permit can issued when the use \u201cis not detrimental to the recreational values of the park concerned.\u201d \u00a0This looser test for permitted uses allows for a broader range of activities.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Class C Park<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Class C parks are established by order in council under the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A Class C park is similar to a Class A park, except the following.\u00a0 A Class C park must be managed by a local board appointed by the minister.\u00a0 The Board is responsible for determining allowable uses in a Class C park.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Conservancy<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Under the <em>Park Act <\/em>(5(3.1))<em>,<\/em> Conservancies are established for the following purposes:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a)\u00a0 for the protection and maintenance of their biological diversity and natural environments,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) for the preservation and maintenance of social, ceremonial and cultural uses of first nations,<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(c)\u00a0 for protection and maintenance of their recreational values, and<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(d) to ensure that development or use of their natural resources occurs in a sustainable manner consistent with the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">A conservancy is Crown land that can be designated under the <em>Park Act <\/em>or by the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A conservancy is managed according to conditions established by the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Several characteristics set conservancies apart from Class A, B, and C parks.\u00a0 Namely, in addition to maintaining biological diversity and natural environments, a conservancy recognises the importance of social, ceremonial, and cultural uses of an area by Indigenous Peoples.\u00a0 The conservancy designation was created in 2006.\u00a0 Compared to uses permitted in Class A parks, the uses in a conservancy are broader.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Recreation Area<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">A recreation area is Crown land reserved or set aside for public recreational use, as established by order in council.\u00a0 Although there are restrictions on the sale, lease, or disposal or recreation areas, a wider range of uses are permitted compared to parks.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Ecological Reserve<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Ecological reserves are established under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96103_01\"><em>Ecological Reserve Act<\/em><\/a>, as follows.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px\">2\u00a0\u00a0 The purpose of this Act is to reserve Crown land for ecological purposes, including the following areas:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(a) areas suitable for scientific research and educational purposes associated with studies in productivity and other aspects of the natural environment;<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(b) areas that are representative examples of natural ecosystems in British Columbia;<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(c) areas that serve as examples of ecosystems that have been modified by human beings and offer an opportunity to study the recovery of the natural ecosystem from modification;<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(d) areas where rare or endangered native plants and animals in their natural habitat may be preserved;<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(e) areas that contain unique and rare examples of botanical, zoological or geological phenomena.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Ecological reserves can also be established by inclusion in schedules to the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Among all protected area designations for Crown lands, ecological reserves are the most highly protected and all extractive activities are prohibited.\u00a0 Scientific research and educational activities are the principle uses of ecological reserves. \u00a0Most ecological reserves are open to the public only for non-consumptive uses.\u00a0 The Ecological Reserve Regulations identifies uses that are not permitted in an ecological reserve.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Designation under the <\/strong><strong><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Protected area designations can be established under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act <\/em>by order in council.\u00a0 These designations are made by a Land Use Committee of Cabinet, which sets specific provisions via the order in council, including requirements to adhere to elements of the <em>Park Act <\/em>and regulations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Conservation Lands<\/strong>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">In addition to lands administered by BC Parks, the category of protected lands also includes conservation lands, the primary purpose of which is to protect important habitat for the benefit of regionally or internationally significant fish and wildlife species.\u00a0 Note that conservation lands are not the same as Conservancy designations that are described above.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Conservation lands include land designations enacted in legislation, such as Wildlife Management Areas designated under section 4(2) of the provincial <em>Wildlife Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Wildlife Management Areas are established for the benefit of regionally to internationally significant fish and wildlife species or their habitats.\u00a0 The first Wildlife Management Areas were established in 1987.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">For more details about conservation lands, visit the Government of BC webpage on <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/wildlife\/wildlife-habitats\/conservation-lands\">Conservation Lands<\/a>.\u00a0 This page describes various ways that conservation lands are established, the difference between administered and non-administered conservation lands, and the importance of partnerships to both establish and manage conservation lands.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong class=\"import-Strong\">Resource Exclusion Areas<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Resource exclusion areas, which cover 12.4% of BC, include designations that fully exclude one or two resource activities, such as forestry, mining, or large-scale hydro-electric development.\u00a0 The excluded resource activity is often a primary threat to biodiversity.\u00a0 Examples of types of resource exclusion designations, and corresponding legislation, are included in Table 2.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Table 2. <\/strong><strong>Types of <\/strong><strong>resource exclusion areas and enabling legislation<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Type of resource exclusion<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Provincial legislation<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Section<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cno registration reserves\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Mineral Tenure Act<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.22 Mineral reserves<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cno disposition reserves\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Coal Act<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.21 Coal land reserves<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cw<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">ithdrawal from disposition<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Petroleum and<\/em><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\"> Natural<\/em><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\"> Gas Act<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.72 <\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Withdrawal from disposition<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cw<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">ithdrawal from disposition<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Land Act<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.16 <\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Withdrawal from disposition<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Wildlife Habitat Areas<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em>Forest and Range Practices Act<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\">s. 149.1(a)(ii)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<td><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong class=\"import-Strong\">Spatially Managed Areas<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Spatially managed areas, which cover 24.5% of BC, combine resource management and conservation.\u00a0 Importantly, in these areas, conservation is not the sole or primary objective.\u00a0 Designations for spatially managed areas vary significantly in purpose and scope.\u00a0 Designations under the <em>Forest and Range Practices Act<\/em> include the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Conditional-harvest Wildlife Habitat Areas;<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Conditional-harvest Ungulate Winter Range; and,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Visual Quality Objectives.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Important Fisheries Watersheds, among other legal objectives, can be established under the <em>Land Act<\/em>. For example, spatially-managed watersheds have been established for the Great Bear Rainforest and on Haida Gwaii (refer to the Natural Resource Planning Application and supporting materials).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\r\n<div id=\"sdfootnote1sym\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">This Learning Module describes lands designated as parks and other protected areas under British Columbia (BC) legislation, which is one of two distinct perspectives on protected areas in British Columbia. The other distinct perspective is Indigenous-led protected areas, which is covered under a complementary Learning Module on Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Learning Module<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"textbox__content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/chapter\/farmland_protection_canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">The term \u201cprotected area\u201d is most readily associated with provincial parks.\u00a0 However, under BC legislation, \u201cprotected areas\u201d should be understood as a general term that refers to lands that are protected with varying degrees of purpose, scope and strength, and enabled under different legislative frameworks.\u00a0 Accordingly, this module covers the breadth of protected areas in BC under the following three categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Protected lands (covers 15.4% of BC);<\/li>\n<li>Resource exclusion areas (covers 12.4% of BC);<\/li>\n<li>Spatially managed areas (covers 24.5% of BC).<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"As stated by the Ministry, these categories are intended to be treated independently and the percentages of area designated should not be summed across categories.\" id=\"return-footnote-209-1\" href=\"#footnote-209-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">The BC Government describes these types of protected areas as land designations that contribute to conservation.\u00a0 These designations include spatially-defined areas established through legislation or purchased for the following purposes:\u00a0 protection of nature and cultural values; conservation of biological diversity and ecosystem services; and management of natural resources.\u00a0 The latter aims to balance conservation and economic opportunities.\u00a0 In this sense, conservation is more general than protected areas.\u00a0 We use the latter term because it is more common within the field of land use planning.<\/p>\n<p>The information below about the three categories of protected areas draws from on-line information of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in particular:<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>BC Parks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.gov.bc.ca\/soe\/indicators\/land\/land-designations.html#details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Land &amp; Forests:\u00a0 Land Designations that Contribute to Conservation in BC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 18pt\">And the corresponding reports:<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 54pt\">BC Parks (2015). <em>Summary of Protected Area Designations and Activities<\/em>. Victoria, British Columbia: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 54pt\">Environmental Reporting BC (2017). <em>Land Designations that Contribute to Conservation in B.C.<\/em> Victoria, British Columbia: State of Environment Reporting, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>BC Parks describes relevant acts and regulations for protected areas on the following page: <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/legislation.html\">https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/legislation.html<\/a>.\u00a0 Relevant acts and regulations include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Ecological Reserve Act and Regulations<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Park Act and Regulations<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing Act<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Ministry of Environment Act<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Note that, in addition to protected areas established under BC legislation, the province is also home to national protected areas.\u00a0 These areas are designated under federal legislation including <em>Canada<\/em><em> National Parks Act<\/em>, <em>Canada Wildlife Act<\/em>, and <em>Migratory Birds Convention Act<\/em>.\u00a0 These protected areas include National Parks, National Wildlife Areas, and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Protected<\/strong> <strong>Lands<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">This Module began by stating that \u201cprotected areas\u201d refers to more than just provincial parks.\u00a0 What people are most familiar with and commonly associate with provincial parks are most likely to be Class A Provincial Parks.\u00a0 As will be covered, there are other options included under protected lands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Key facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Strathcona Provincial Park, located in the heart of Vancouver Island, was BC\u2019s first provincial park. It was established on March 1, 1911. Mount Robson Provincial Park was established on March 1, 1913.<\/li>\n<li>As part of Canada\u2019s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, signed in 1992, the Government of Canada committed to protecting 17% of lands by 2020.<\/li>\n<li>In 1993, the Protected Areas Strategy was approved, thereby committing BC to protect at least 12% of its land base. These goals were incorporated in the provincial strategic land use planning processes, in particular, Land and Resource Management Plans (refer to the Learning Module on regional land use planning). This effort led to the doubling of the amount of land in parks and protected areas by 2000.<\/li>\n<li>In 2010, BC committed to protecting 17% of its land by 2020.<\/li>\n<li>In 2019, the Government of Canada committed to protect 25% of Canada\u2019s lands (and oceans) by 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more details, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">history of parks in BC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Parks and protected areas are lands administered by BC Parks.\u00a0 The primary purpose is to ensure the long-term conservation of nature and cultural values.\u00a0 As summarised in Table 1, in addition to three classes of provincial parks, protected lands also include recreation areas, conservancies, designations under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em>, and ecological reserves.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Table 1.\u00a0 Parks and Protected Areas System Administered by BC Parks<strong><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><\/strong>(as of December 15, 2015)<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 341.75pt\">\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Designation <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Number<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"background-color: #1f497d;vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong>Area (ha)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class A Parks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">630<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">10,550,666<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class B Parks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">3,778<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Class C Parks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">484<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Recreation Areas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">5,929<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Conservancies<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">158<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">3,008,865<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Designated protected areas under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act <\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">84<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">384,798<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Ecological Reserves<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">148<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">160,292<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableNormal-R\">\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Total <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">1,037<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableNormal-C\" style=\"vertical-align: middle;padding: 0pt 5.4pt;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext;text-align: right\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">14,114,812<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Source:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/bcparks.ca\/about\/park-designations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BC Parks<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong><em>Designations<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96344_01\"><em>Park Act<\/em><\/a> [RSBC 1996] Chapter 344 enables the provincial government to declare the following designations for Crown land.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Classification of parks, conservancies and recreation areas<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">5(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a) establish an area of Crown land as a Class A, Class B or Class C park, or as a conservancy or recreation area, or<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) designate land in a park, conservancy or recreation area as a designated wildland area,<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Additional powers for Crown land<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">6 \u00a0 (1) If<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a) an order has been made in respect of Crown land under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96117_01\"><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) Crown land has been designated as green belt land under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96176_01\"><em>Greenbelt Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(c) Crown land is a heritage site under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96187_01\"><em>Heritage Conservation Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(d) land is leased to the government or to an agent of the government for public outdoor recreation,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(e) land is owned by a person who has entered into an agreement with the government or with an agent of the government respecting the use of the land for outdoor recreation,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(f) land is owned by a person who has entered into an agreement with the government or an agent of the government respecting the conservation, preservation or protection of the land or an amenity in relation to it,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(g) a trail, path or waterway owned by the government is available for use by the public as a trail or path, or as a waterway for canoes or small boats, or<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(h) Crown land is established or continued as an ecological reserve under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00_96103_01\"><em>Ecological Reserve Act<\/em><\/a> or by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/00017_00\"><em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em><\/a>,<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order made under this and any other applicable Act, authorize the minister to manage and administer the land, or the trail, path or waterway, or the interest of the government in it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><strong>Class A Park<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">As per the <em>Park Act<\/em> (5(3)), a Class A park is \u201cdedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.\u201d\u00a0 Class A parks can be established by either order in council under the <em>Park Act <\/em>or by inclusion in a schedule to the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Uses of Class A parks are managed under the <em>Park Act<\/em>, which set conditions for issuing park use permits.\u00a0 A defining characteristic of a Class A park is that a park use permit can be issued only if, as per s. 8(2) of the <em>Park Act<\/em>, \u201cto do so is necessary to preserve or maintain the recreational values of the park involved.\u201d\u00a0 On the date a park is established, activities already authorized by the province may be allowed to continue, excluding commercial logging, mining, and hydro electric development.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Class B Park<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Class B parks are established by order in council under the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A Class B park is similar to Class A parks except when issuing a park use permit. \u00a0Under s. 8(4) of the <em>Park Act<\/em>, a park use permit can issued when the use \u201cis not detrimental to the recreational values of the park concerned.\u201d \u00a0This looser test for permitted uses allows for a broader range of activities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Class C Park<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Class C parks are established by order in council under the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A Class C park is similar to a Class A park, except the following.\u00a0 A Class C park must be managed by a local board appointed by the minister.\u00a0 The Board is responsible for determining allowable uses in a Class C park.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Conservancy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Under the <em>Park Act <\/em>(5(3.1))<em>,<\/em> Conservancies are established for the following purposes:<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(a)\u00a0 for the protection and maintenance of their biological diversity and natural environments,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(b) for the preservation and maintenance of social, ceremonial and cultural uses of first nations,<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(c)\u00a0 for protection and maintenance of their recreational values, and<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 120px\">(d) to ensure that development or use of their natural resources occurs in a sustainable manner consistent with the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">A conservancy is Crown land that can be designated under the <em>Park Act <\/em>or by the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 A conservancy is managed according to conditions established by the <em>Park Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Several characteristics set conservancies apart from Class A, B, and C parks.\u00a0 Namely, in addition to maintaining biological diversity and natural environments, a conservancy recognises the importance of social, ceremonial, and cultural uses of an area by Indigenous Peoples.\u00a0 The conservancy designation was created in 2006.\u00a0 Compared to uses permitted in Class A parks, the uses in a conservancy are broader.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Recreation Area<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">A recreation area is Crown land reserved or set aside for public recreational use, as established by order in council.\u00a0 Although there are restrictions on the sale, lease, or disposal or recreation areas, a wider range of uses are permitted compared to parks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Ecological Reserve<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Ecological reserves are established under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96103_01\"><em>Ecological Reserve Act<\/em><\/a>, as follows.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px\">2\u00a0\u00a0 The purpose of this Act is to reserve Crown land for ecological purposes, including the following areas:<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(a) areas suitable for scientific research and educational purposes associated with studies in productivity and other aspects of the natural environment;<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(b) areas that are representative examples of natural ecosystems in British Columbia;<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(c) areas that serve as examples of ecosystems that have been modified by human beings and offer an opportunity to study the recovery of the natural ecosystem from modification;<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(d) areas where rare or endangered native plants and animals in their natural habitat may be preserved;<\/p>\n<p class=\"hanging-indent\" style=\"padding-left: 160px\">(e) areas that contain unique and rare examples of botanical, zoological or geological phenomena.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Ecological reserves can also be established by inclusion in schedules to the <em>Protected Areas of British Columbia Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Among all protected area designations for Crown lands, ecological reserves are the most highly protected and all extractive activities are prohibited.\u00a0 Scientific research and educational activities are the principle uses of ecological reserves. \u00a0Most ecological reserves are open to the public only for non-consumptive uses.\u00a0 The Ecological Reserve Regulations identifies uses that are not permitted in an ecological reserve.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Designation under the <\/strong><strong><em>Environment and Land Use Act<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Protected area designations can be established under the <em>Environment and Land Use Act <\/em>by order in council.\u00a0 These designations are made by a Land Use Committee of Cabinet, which sets specific provisions via the order in council, including requirements to adhere to elements of the <em>Park Act <\/em>and regulations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conservation Lands<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">In addition to lands administered by BC Parks, the category of protected lands also includes conservation lands, the primary purpose of which is to protect important habitat for the benefit of regionally or internationally significant fish and wildlife species.\u00a0 Note that conservation lands are not the same as Conservancy designations that are described above.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Conservation lands include land designations enacted in legislation, such as Wildlife Management Areas designated under section 4(2) of the provincial <em>Wildlife Act<\/em>.\u00a0 Wildlife Management Areas are established for the benefit of regionally to internationally significant fish and wildlife species or their habitats.\u00a0 The first Wildlife Management Areas were established in 1987.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">For more details about conservation lands, visit the Government of BC webpage on <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/plants-animals-ecosystems\/wildlife\/wildlife-habitats\/conservation-lands\">Conservation Lands<\/a>.\u00a0 This page describes various ways that conservation lands are established, the difference between administered and non-administered conservation lands, and the importance of partnerships to both establish and manage conservation lands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong class=\"import-Strong\">Resource Exclusion Areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Resource exclusion areas, which cover 12.4% of BC, include designations that fully exclude one or two resource activities, such as forestry, mining, or large-scale hydro-electric development.\u00a0 The excluded resource activity is often a primary threat to biodiversity.\u00a0 Examples of types of resource exclusion designations, and corresponding legislation, are included in Table 2.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong>Table 2. <\/strong><strong>Types of <\/strong><strong>resource exclusion areas and enabling legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Type of resource exclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Provincial legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"shaded\" style=\"background-color: #d9d9d9;border: 0.5pt solid windowtext\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><strong lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Section<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cno registration reserves\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Mineral Tenure Act<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.22 Mineral reserves<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cno disposition reserves\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Coal Act<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.21 Coal land reserves<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cw<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">ithdrawal from disposition<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Petroleum and<\/em><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\"> Natural<\/em><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\"> Gas Act<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.72 <\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Withdrawal from disposition<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201cw<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">ithdrawal from disposition<\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Land Act<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\"><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">s.16 <\/span><span lang=\"en-CA\" xml:lang=\"en-CA\">Withdrawal from disposition<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"TableGrid-R\">\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Wildlife Habitat Areas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\"><em>Forest and Range Practices Act<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"TableGrid-C\" style=\"border: solid windowtext 0.5pt\">\n<p class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 8.300000000000001pt\">s. 149.1(a)(ii)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"import-Normal\"><strong class=\"import-Strong\">Spatially Managed Areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Spatially managed areas, which cover 24.5% of BC, combine resource management and conservation.\u00a0 Importantly, in these areas, conservation is not the sole or primary objective.\u00a0 Designations for spatially managed areas vary significantly in purpose and scope.\u00a0 Designations under the <em>Forest and Range Practices Act<\/em> include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Conditional-harvest Wildlife Habitat Areas;<\/li>\n<li>Conditional-harvest Ungulate Winter Range; and,<\/li>\n<li>Visual Quality Objectives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"import-Normal\">Important Fisheries Watersheds, among other legal objectives, can be established under the <em>Land Act<\/em>. For example, spatially-managed watersheds have been established for the Great Bear Rainforest and on Haida Gwaii (refer to the Natural Resource Planning Application and supporting materials).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"__UNKNOWN__\">\n<div id=\"sdfootnote1sym\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-209-1\">As stated by the Ministry, these categories are intended to be treated independently and the percentages of area designated should not be summed across categories. <a href=\"#return-footnote-209-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1858,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"Module.Protected Areas","pb_subtitle":"LEARNING MODULE","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":"cc-by-nc-sa"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[57],"class_list":["post-209","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","license-cc-by-nc-sa"],"part":77,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1858"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1366,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/209\/revisions\/1366"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/77"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/209\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=209"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=209"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/landuseplanninginbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}