SkeenaWild Says BC Failed to Follow Their Own Rules by Cancelling Over 1.35 Million Acres of Land Designations in the Northwest

BC failed to follow their own rules when they cancelled over a million acres of land designations, according to the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust.

Between 2019 and 2020, the Province issued five cancellation orders which had covered non-administered Conservation Lands in the northwest.

Non-administered designations are an interim measure to restrict or regulate development while a more secure designation is established.

Under current provincial procedures, only designations identified by conservation staff as no longer necessary are to be cancelled.

But SkeenaWild says that the cancellations were issued against recommendations from staff, and without adequate consultation.

In addition, they say there was no consultation with local land and resource planning committees, First Nations, local governments, or the public.

Despite that, the orders cancelled over 1.35 million acres of designations covering areas such as Mount Morse, Babine Lake, Atlin, and the Stewart Estuaries.

SkeenaWild is calling for the Province to rescind the cancellations, until a permanent Wildlife Management Area designation can be issued.

They are also calling for a consultation process to ensure that designation is in line with public and First Nations’ expectations.

Maps of some of the former designation areas, provided by SkeenaWild, can be found below: