Land Use Decision Makers Should Consider Cumulative Effects, Climate Impacts, and Changing Roles
Real Estate Foundation of BC report mulls challenges, progress, and opportunities for sustainable land use in British Columbia
VANCOUVER, Feb. 12, 2019 /CNW/ - In a report released today, the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) examines land use challenges – including climate change, biodiversity loss, and complex trade-offs – and suggests recommendations to support more sustainable land management.
Through interviews with land managers, conservation leaders, and sustainability experts, REFBC found that land use decision-making can be uncoordinated and that communities have difficulty assessing long-term, cumulative impacts of cascading decisions. In rural communities, small planning teams experience greater difficulty in overseeing large land bases.
"Land management is enormously complex," said Jack Wong, REFBC CEO. "Ecosystem health, environmental law and policy, First Nations right and title, resource management, housing and transportation – these are intersectional issues and topics that can't be considered in isolation. Collaboration and coordination between communities, governments, First Nations, NGOs, and conservation officers is essential."
More hopefully, advisors and experts pointed to strong Indigenous leadership in land use planning, ecosystem management, and watershed governance.
To prepare the report, REFBC worked with The Firelight Group to review literature, interview land use experts, and survey land managers. Advice was collected and organized into five priorities:
- Coordinate land use actors and initiatives to harmonize planning with a geographic area.
- Align land use frameworks to guide decision-making and track impacts.
- Mobilize land use education and outreach to engage citizens and share data.
- Support Indigenous-led processes for land use planning, management, and governance.
- Adapt the roles of non-profits to complement Indigenous and local government leadership.
The Real Estate Foundation of BC makes grants to support research, education, and policy analysis related to land use and real estate. REFBC will use report findings to inform funding and partnership decisions.
As part of the research, REFBC also commissioned a public opinion poll on land use, sustainability, and rural planning.
Downloads:
- Beyond the Horizon: Sustainable Land Use in British Columbia (LINK)
- Sustainable Land Use: A Public Opinion Survey of British Columbians (LINK)
- File photos (LINK)
About:
The Real Estate Foundation of BC is a philanthropic organization that helps advance sustainable land use in British Columbia. They give grants to non-profit organizations working to improve BC communities and natural environments through responsible land use, conservation, and real estate practices. Their grants can support research, education, and policy analysis. Since 1988, REFBC has approved more than $85 million in grants. Learn more at www.refbc.com.
SOURCE Real Estate Foundation of BC
Media Contact: Stephanie Butler, Communications Manager, REFBC. ([email protected], 604-343-2620)
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