Tuesday 12 November 2013

Park management planning still in progress

After BC Parks published on their website a summary of the received online comments on the park planning process  things went quiet. Based on the comments and various stakeholder meetings BC Parks started the work on developing the Draft Management Plan for nine parks in the Lillooet area.
 
One of them is the South Chilcotin Mountains Park (previously named Spruce Lake Protected Area), to which almost all comments of the survey applied to. When asked about the issues that needed to be addressed within the nine parks through the management plan, environmental protection was the most frequent, followed by access, trail maintenance, user conflicts and illegal motorized activity.
 
source: BC Parks - Public Input to Lillooet Area Park Planning Summary.
 
Acceptable activities in the provincial parks and how to keep the park open for all users were one main input for future management recommendations. Mountain bikers have claimed  their right of access since the sport became more popular in the South Chilcotin Mountains area the last few years. Hence the mountain biking community started a campaign to represent their interest. This is why biking is 55% of the total reported public users the most activity by respondents. Other respondent groups are Hiking (22%), Camping (12%), Horse Riding (4%), Fishing (3%), Photography (2%), Hunting (1%) and Wildlife Viewing (1%). Most users of the park are tolerant of other activities though. However the up-coming draft has to consider the multiple use of the natural resources and a way to define a balance between all users interest and preservation of the wilderness.
 
The draft management plan was reviewed within the Thompson Cariboo Region of BC Parks and has now been submitted to headquarters for review. Once that review has taken place and any changes made it will be available for public review and comments on the BC Park website. Hopefully it is within the month.
 
Be ready to give your input when it comes for a second round. We will keep you updated.

No comments:

Post a Comment