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Atlin-Taku Land Use Planning – 2nd stakeholder workshops

webmaster : Nov 26.2008

The 2nd Atlin-Taku land use plan stakeholder workshop sessions took place in Taku River Tlingit territory on Friday and Saturday Nov 21-22.  The workshops were highlighted by a series of interest statement presentations from stakeholders.  BC government and Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) representatives listened to a majority of interests speak to the importance of conservation, responsible fish and wildlife management and accessibility to land in the planning area.  

RWB Executive Director Will Patric (centre) examines Atlin/Taku geology and mineral potential maps.  BC representatives Paul Wojdak (left) and Wayne Giles (right) lead the maps presentation.

One of the workshop goals was to update stakeholders of progress made by BC government and TRTFN in identifying key values in the planning area since the first workshops were held in June 2008.  A number of maps have been updated thanks in part to input provided from stakeholders.  The maps are essential to understanding the various interests and values spatially.  Some of the maps under scrutiny include stakeholder notations of interest, mineral values and mineral tenures in the planning area and high value caribou and moose habitat.  Discussions around minerals and geology were of particular interest for both stakeholders and representatives of the two governments. 

As discussions evolve around possible protected areas, and special management designations – where limitations would be placed on the kinds of developments that can take place in certain zoned areas – the scope of mining is front and centre.  Where, and how much?  Will other values – culture, heritage, fish, wildlife, clean water – trump mineral values in certain areas?  In the case of the Atlin-Taku there are significant value overlap areas.  In short, areas deemed to be ideal for development by some are located in highly sensitive ecological areas.   A creative approach is required by governments to address areas of conflict between the range of interests.  The mining industry has traditionally enjoyed a rather unfettered access to land.  It will be interesting to see what kinds of limitations will be placed on the sector when the plan is finalized.