Brian Wilkes and Associates  

Summary of Provincial/Federal Natural Resource Planning Activities, East Side of Lake Winnipeg Planning Area. (682 Kb pdf file)

Provincial/Federal Natural Resource Planning Activities,
East Side of Lake Winnipeg Planning Area:

Overview, Summary and Assessment for Broad Area Planning
February, 2004

Prepared for:

East Side Planning Initiative Secretariat,
405 – 326 Broadway,
Winnipeg , MB , R3C 0S5

Table of Contents

Introduction and Terms of Reference
Methods
Planning Processes
Specific Issues in the East Side Planning Area
Past Plans
Parks and Protected Areas
Recreation and Crown Lands
All-weather Road Network
Forestry Operations
Hydroelectric Transmission Line
Mineral Exploration and Development 
Species at Risk
Wildlife
Fisheries
Conclusions
 

Introduction and Terms of Reference

The East Side Planning Initiative was launched in 2000 as a pilot project for broad area planning in the province of Manitoba .  The East Side of Lake Winnipeg is a unique region of the province because it contains substantial tracts of boreal forest with little commercial development, and contains numerous communities that are not connected with all-season roads or the usual economic opportunities.  As such the region possesses significant challenges for integrating economic, ecological, cultural and First Nations interests in capturing a vision for how development there should proceed.  

Broad area planning is defined as integrated and coordinated planning that is based on the sustainability of the ecosystem.  In order to conduct broad area planning in the East Side , the provincial government appointed a Round Table to advise the Minister of Conservation on development options and policy.  To assist the Round Table (RT) in its work, there is now a need to assemble, evaluate and summarize information that is critically important to the planning process. Specifically, a listing and assessment is required of the plans and initiatives that have been developed by government and Crown agencies over the past five years that would have a direct and important bearing on the ecology or development of the East Side .  (It is recognized that some of these plans have been placed on hold while the Round Table does its work.)  It is also intended to identify the natural resources data used by the respective agencies in making these plans.

The kinds of plans referred to here are those that have been developed or contemplated by government and crown agencies, and that will bring significant change to the communities or landscapes of the East Side.  These would include the crown land disposal plans and annual allowable cut decisions of the government, as well as plans for new road development and transmission lines being proposed by government or Crown agencies.  The information and data that supports these plans also needed to be examined, and gaps identified.

The product of this assessment and gap analysis will provide an overview that will enable the Round Table to understand the range and types of development and social pressures being felt on the East Side , and the scope of developments being contemplated.  This is turn will assist the Round Table to identify those development activities and plans that may be consistent with their vision and goals for the East Side, those that are not, and those that require more information before this judgment can be made.

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Methods

The method for establishing the list of plans and initiatives has involved contacting the key personnel in the departments and crown agencies involved, and to gather the information sought.  The focus was on resource agencies.  First Nation governments were not contacted at this stage of the review. The departments and agencies included: Highways; Conservation (Lands, Protected Areas, Wildlife, Fisheries, etc); Mines, Manitoba Hydro and Tembec.  A questionnaire was developed so that standard information was collected from each contributor.  The results were inserted into a summary table, submitted as a separate document.  The table includes the department or agency, the type of plan or initiative, the information available to support it, whether it is on hold pending the results of the Round Table planning, and comments on what additional information or decision-making is required before the initiative can be implemented.  The table will be made into an accessible data base on-line.  It must be stressed that due to time constraints, and because information was frequently difficult to obtain, the table may not be as in depth as hoped. 

Also, in this narrative report, there is a review and assessment of the broad areas planning initiatives in British Columbia and Ontario , with specific reference to the strategic and operational level of detail they contain, and the information sources necessary to construct them. Both broad area planning initiatives have been presented and described in past meetings of the Round Table

The work has proceeded in consultation with the ESPI secretariat, with interactive participation and review as required as the work developed.

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Planning Processes 

Planning is something we all do.  From going on a holiday to making a shopping trip downtown, everyone engages in some sort of planning and decision-making.  Planning at the broad area level, as being approached by the East Side Round Table, has basically the same steps as other kinds of planning, even though the process is much more complicated.  These general steps are:

Identify goals or objectives

Gather information about the goals or objectives

Identify alternative ways of achieving the goals or objectives

Examine alternatives in the light of the background information available

Decide which of the alternatives makes the most sense to you

Implement the decisions

Review the results to see if it achieved the goals or objectives

Amend or adjust the plan accordingly from time to time

This is the same kind of approach being taken by the Round Table.  The goals or objectives consist of the vision that Round Table members are developing for the future of the East Side .  Information is being gathered to understand and support the goals and to assess alternative ways that the goals can be achieved.  This includes extensive public involvement. The Round Table will eventually get to the stage where it decides what alternatives make the most sense, or meet the most interests, in order to achieve the goals and objectives.  The recommended course of action will be the plan.  Implementation policies will have to be elaborated, and the success of the plan will have to be evaluated at some future time.  

On the East Side , the situation is made more complex because of the range of interests that need to be considered when deciding between alternative courses of action.  In addition, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to whether outcomes will be as predicted for any given course of action.  The participatory process that has been put in place is designed to identify and address the range of interests and come up with some satisfactory alternatives; similarly, it should help reduce uncertainty.  Also, there is good evidence that when the people directly affected by a plan are part of the planning process, support for the plan is broader and its implementation is more effective.  

There are several other examples of broad area planning or its equivalent elsewhere in Canada :

Ontario ’s Ministry of Natural Resources undertook a “Lands for Life” land use planning program from 1997 – 1999.  The planning process was led by 3 citizen Round Tables (RTs) with representatives from agriculture, angling and hunting, forestry, local communities, mining, Aboriginal interests, natural heritage, recreation and tourism sectors.  The RTs were given government support teams for policy, planning and logistical support.  General public input occurred when the RT recommendations were drafted. Unfortunately, most treaty organizations ignored or challenged the process.

The RTs identified the needs and interests of the various resource sectors and the public.  This was followed by a list of objectives such as completing the park system, ending the forestry/land use conflicts, etc.  Over 200 recommendations were drafted and reviewed by the general public.  

Emphasis was placed on decisions, not lengthy discussions, recognizing that there was inadequate time to collect, analyze and evaluate all the necessary data.  Timelines were extremely tight, and were often not consistent with aboriginal community consultation needs.  Also, there was the need to separate political and rights issues from land use issues. The end result was a Land Use Strategy document, resource stewardship agreements, forestry accords, etc. All major stakeholders (industry, NGOs, etc.) endorsed the final result and Ontario is now implementing the Living Legacy program.  

In British Columbia , the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management initiated a Strategic Land Use Planning process in 1992 that was endorsed by the government in 1993.  The process involved six basic steps:  

1.   Initiating the plan –  identify the participants and the key issues

2.   Gather information – collect and analyze environmental, economic and social information

3.   Develop a plan – develop resource management objectives, strategies and zones for various options

4.   Build an agreement – aim for consensus on the resource management direction and desired option

5.   Plan approval by Cabinet

6.   Implement, monitor and adjust the plan over time.

BC’s approach aims at balancing a sustainable environment with a sustainable economy.  The process is open and community-based, with agreed-upon Terms of Reference and ground rules.  The process recognizes the need for broad-based support for land use planning within a cooperative environment.  It also recognizes the key roles that both political will and senior government leadership play in the long-term success of the process and any resultant plan.  

This Strategic Land Use Planning process has resulted in 3 broad land use zones or categories for the province:

• Protected Areas – 12% of the province
• Integrated Resource Management Zones – 82% of the province divided into 3 sub-zones
• Enhanced: key purpose to increase timber values
• General
• Special: resource management integrated with conservation values where resource development is allowed but must be planned in concert with conservation values such as recreation, wildlife and tourism.
• Agriculture/Settlement – 6% of the province dedicated to the Agricultural Land Reserve, private lands and municipal/local government lands.

Much of BC has completed the Strategic Land Use Planning process, producing many types of regional land use plans.  Achieving consensus among the competing land uses has been very difficult.  First Nations may choose not to participate for various reasons, including treaty negotiations, which were not complete when the planning process was started in the early 1990s. Nonetheless, overall resource stewardship has improved as all communities (including industry) integrate environmental sustainability values within their resource development plans.  One tangible result has been the approval of 421 new parks, recreation areas, ecological reserves and protected areas – which together take the province closer to protecting 12% of the land.

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Specific Issues In the East Side Planning Area

Past Plans

A plan for the East Side was prepared in 1986 by the then Ministry of Natural Resources.  The plan was intended to cover a 20 year period, with a major review every 5 years.  The planning area was smaller, and stretched between the north edge of Nopiming Park north to the 53^rd parallel.  The intent of the plan was much the same as the RT’s – to guide future development.  There is no indication that in the development of the plan there was a public process, or that the plan reflects the preferences of the people living in the area.  Section 4.1.6 of the plan calls for sending the document to local communities and First Nations for comment, but there is no indication that this was done, or that there was a review process.  

The plan contains statements of goals and objectives for the plan area by each relevant provincial government agency of the day, including Manitoba Hydro.  These statements are quite general, and typically reflect the application of the agency mandate within the planning area.  

At page 35 of the plan, a map is presented showing provincial land use zones designated within the plan area.  Eight land use categories are described, and the land use guidelines within them are detailed. Most of the shore of Lake Winnipeg is shown as a Water Power Reserve, which overlaps several other land use zones.  The plan intends to restrict land uses within this zone.  Of interest are separate land use zones for caribou habitat, parks, major river systems, etc.  The corridor along recreational rivers such as the Leyond and Bloodvein is established as 150 meters on either side. Most of the plan area outside of parks is designated as “Resource Management Area” (RMA), and subject to land use guidelines contained in an appendix (not found).  Guidelines in the plan that apply within the RMA encourage mineral exploration and other mixed uses, including power lines or other types of infrastructure development.  

This plan is important for several reasons.  First, despite its weaknesses, it is a benchmark for planning on the East Side , and should be reviewed by the RT.  It could be used as a starting point for developing a renewed vision for the future of the area, as a major step in the development of the Broad Area Plan.  Second, it caused government departments to be clear about their goals and objectives for the area, within their mandate.  This could be a useful exercise to do again today.  Third, it outlines an implementation process, including provisions for plan amendment.  An implementation process is an important piece that the RT should keep in mind in elaborating its Broad Area Plan.  

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Parks and Protected Areas

Brief Review of Findings

The provincial Parks Act of 1993 is a powerful instrument for regulating and restricting land uses.  In the East Side Planning Area, parks, protected areas and potential protected areas (areas of special interest, or ASIs) occupy much of the land area, thereby possibly restricting access and industrial uses. The protected river corridors along Bloodvein and Leyond rivers, and the proposed corridors along the Manigotagan, will restrict incursions in them in the southern portion of the planning area, and cause linear development such as roads or transmission lines to be moved west, close to or along the shore of Lake Winnipeg .   

It is noted that First Nations are involved in developing their own approach to protected areas.  For example, there is a 2002 accord between Poplar River , Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids and Pikangikum  First Nations to create a network of linked protected areas on ancestral lands, with the possibility of having the area designated as a world heritage site.  It is possible that there is a difference between what First Nations mean by “protected”, and what the Parks Act intends.  

Recommendations of the East Side RT may influence the management plans of the parks and protected areas, but it may be beyond the scope of the RT to design protected areas.  Staff in the protected areas program are seeking guidance from the Round Table on an approach to protected areas within the planning area.  There may be a perception within the RT that the protected areas staff will be making these recommendations.  Some clarity of the respective roles and expectations on both sides would be useful.  

Information/Policy Gaps  

• The parks and park reserves on the East Side have unfinished management plans.  This presents an opportunity for the Round Table to have some input into the directions these management plans take.
• A clear process is not evident for moving the areas currently identified as ASIs to a protected area status.
• A process is not evident for developing management prescriptions for protected areas. 
• How the communities and First Nations organizations on the East Side define “protected area” may differ from the definition given in the Park Act.
• Improved communications between the RT and the Protected Area staff of Manitoba Conservation, especially as it applies to expected roles, would be useful 

Discussion on Planning  

With all the parks, park proposals, and protected area proposals within the planning area, a regional analysis of the impact of this land use would be helpful (perhaps call it a cumulative impact statement). This would involve an assessment in a regional context of the extent to which protected areas are now sustaining biodiversity, affecting access and land use, withdrawing timber from commercial uses, and protecting other resource uses.  This analysis could lead to a better understanding of how much more protection, as defined by the Act, is advisable on the East Side .  

It may be appropriate for the RT to stop short of specifying protected areas. Rather, the RT’s role could be to establish the priority that protected areas have within the East Side Broad Area Plan, and provide guidance as to whether the specific uses in them should meet the needs of local people.  Further, the RT could encourage the provincial government to more quickly finalize the management plans for the various protected landscapes already designated on the East Side .   

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Recreation and Crown Lands

Brief Review of Findings  

The public demand for crown land for recreational and residential use is strong on the East Side .  Road development and improved access will likely increase demand in the future.  An approval process is in place to assess individual applications for the disposal of crown land parcels. The Branch’s activity leading to planned dispositions is focused on recreational lots.  This may be related to the government’s news release of April 22, 2003 announcing that the budget provided for funding for 1,000 new cottage lots and 1,900 new campsites in the province.  Five areas are being considered as potential lakeshore cottage lot subdivisions in the East Side , but planning is on hold pending the results of the Round Table’s work.  The subdivisions would be 10-20 lots, each lot approximately one-half acre in size, and would be disposed of by public draw or lottery.  Where access to a subdivision does not now exist, it would be the Crown Lands Branch’s intention to provide it.  

Information/Policy Gaps  

• The location of the five potential cottage lot subdivisions will be an important gap to fill so that the Round Table takes this into account in its planning;

Discussion on Planning  

Crown land is valuable, and demand is strong on the east side.  Incremental alienations of crown parcels into private hands may add up to major changes in land use over time.  Some coordination between the plans of the Crown Lands Branch and planning proposals of the Round Table is advisable.  

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All-Weather Road Network  

Brief Review of Findings  

Developing an all-weather road system on the East Side has been considered for several years.  The current road development activity is upgrading the Rice River road extension into Bloodvein River community. This is proceeding without awaiting the results of the Broad Area Plan.  However, a much larger planning study has been proposed to look at all-weather road access to other communities on the East Side . There are two conceptual approaches for road access: one involves a road link from the South up to Berens River and perhaps to Poplar River , and over to the communities on the northern edge of the planning area.  The other involves a routing in from the west, from Norway House across the top of the planning area to Red Sucker Lake/Island Lake.  A road system has been talked about, but to date there is no systematic information or community dialogue going on concerning taking it to the next step.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• Regional Transportation Network Planning study for an all-weather road system has not begun.
• Clear understanding of community views on all-weather road network development, and what the range of concerns are;
• Environmental and social impacts of an all-weather road system within the planning area are not well understood.

Discussion on Planning

Without question, the development of an all-weather road system will create significant changes in the environment and communities on the East Side , and may well be the most important decisions affecting the future of the planning area.  The improved access will mean more mobility for the residents of the communities, and access to resources, especially north of 53, where a lack of transportation infrastructure is a major limiting factor to development.  Conversely, all-weather road access will open the area to increased development and habitat disturbance, which may not be desired goals of local communities.  However, without the planning study, and the community meetings that will take place to get public input, very little can now be decided on all-weather access roads in the planning area.  

The Round Table could, at a minimum, develop and recommend a process for conducting the planning study, and some guiding principles, so that when the funds to do it are available, firm guidance has already been given. 

Seasonal, logging roads and temporary roads on the East Side should not be forgotten.  These can provide access for people to reach new areas, where over time limited development may occur, or big game populations threatened. Access to lake shores may encourage recreational camps or cabins to be built, followed by demands for leases or other tenure arrangements, followed by a demand for services.  This incremental development may in some circumstances slowly compromise future land use decisions or the ability to do effective planning.  The Round Table could decide if this is a concern, and perhaps develop some policies with respect to seasonal roads.  

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Forestry Operations

Brief Review of Findings  

Forestry operations constitute an important economic activity on the East Side .  The main focus for the future will be on the sustainability of the harvest, and on making the economic benefits available to local communities.  

Tembec has the prominent place as the main industry doing logging and wood processing.  The company was very open about their plans and management tools. Improved information flow, and possible partnerships on smaller ventures with local communities seems possible. Their 10-year management plan has not been updated pending release of the new wood supply analysis, and the results of the Round Table planning.  Plans for sawmills in Berens River and Pine Falls are on hold, due largely to market forces such as market access and low wood prices.

An important environmental and economic decision for the East Side is the annual allowable cut.  The cut stipulates the volume of timber harvested annually, triggers an expectation in the industry for a certain volume of wood to harvest and process, and has a bearing on how much forest remains to be harvested in subsequent years.  How this decision is made should be important to the Round Table.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• A new wood supply analysis will be available this spring for forest management units 31 (FML-01) and 35.  This may change the annual allowable cut within this part of the planning area.
• Forest inventory for the remainder of the planning area is up to 30 years old and needs updating.  Absence of current data on timber species and volumes may limit forest management and planning.
• Forest harvesting activities continue in Nopiming Park without completion of a management plan for the park, although there are interim land use guidelines dated 1988.
• Absence of a transportation infrastructure in the northern half of the planning area severely limits economic forestry activities. 

Discussion on Planning

Government’s intention is to achieve long-term sustainability of the forest as a habitat and a source of social and economic benefits.  There are multiple users of the forest, and multiple interests competing to have their interest met.  Finding the right balance is an ongoing challenge.  The Round Table may hear different views on whether this balance is being achieved.  Providing some policy guidance on how to better understand this balance may be a key role for the Round Table.  

From a planning perspective, forestry operations, local benefits, community growth and development, and the transportation network are all linked.  The development of an all-weather road up the East Side is the key to expanding forestry operations further north.  This will bring a full range of costs and benefits.  The Round Table has an opportunity to make recommendations on how to deal with competing land uses that may influence and be reflected in Tembec’s 10-year management plan.  

A long-term threat to forestry operations is an increased risk of forest fire as the climate warms and the predicted drier summer conditions occur.  Again, access difficulties in the northern part of the planning area will restrict the response to major fires, but there could be considerable losses of forest as a result of global climate change.  

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Hydroelectric Transmission Line  

Brief Review of Findings  

Manitoba Hydro wants to build a third high voltage line from its generating facilities in the north to markets in the south, and they are interested in building it down the East Side of Lake Winnipeg.  The Hydro board has approved starting the process leading up to building the transmission line.  This is not dependent on building more generating capacity in the north.  The new line can be justified by Hydro in terms of recovering line losses from the existing lines, and duplication to achieve supply security.  

Hydro started a series of public meetings in communities on the East Side last April.  This is the first step in a multi-step process leading up to applying for a license to build the line.  The meetings were suspended while the Round Table held its community visits.  Hydro wants to coordinate its communications and public consultation activities with the Round Table’s plans.  The Round Table community visits have now been completed, and Hydro would like to re-start its public meetings schedule.  Meanwhile, no additional work by Hydro has been put into the planning for the line.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• A systematic gathering of local community views has not been completed, although Hydro plans to continue this.
• Information would be useful on how Hydro plans to use community views to affect its decision-making about the proposed HVDC line.
• Hydro is at the earliest stage of the design and approval process; all the studies needed to characterize the environment, select routes, and assess impacts have not started.

Discussion on Planning  

At its presentations to the Round Table in 2003, Hydro has asked for an acknowledgement from the Round Table that a transmission line is an acceptable land use on the East Side , subject to siting principles and the licensing process.  The Round Table has collected some expressions of community concerns and interests.  Weighing the community interests and the costs and benefits of this land use may not be completely possible within the timeframe available to the Round Table.  At a minimum, the Round Table could determine if a transmission line is an acceptable land use on the East Side , and establish siting principles or other conditions that take into account public input and also help meet other land use objectives.  

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Mineral Exploration and Development  

Brief Review of Findings  

Mineral exploration and development within the planning area does not appear to be a significant barrier to achieving the Broad Area Plan.  Exploration is going on to a limited extent, and the mineralized zones are already well identified. Excellent information sources, maps and reports are available on-line through the government web site. Exploration for diamonds is occurring in the northern part of the planning area, and extensively just north of the planning area boundary. Gold exploration is occurring just north of Red Sucker Lake .  Concerns were expressed by that community during the RT visits that they had little involvement with the exploration company, and felt uninformed about the company’s activities.  

Of interest is a protected area screening initiative in the mineral sector.  This involves a group of industry and other participants, who examine ASIs from the perspective of the mineral sector, and determine if a protected area in that location withdraws mineral resources significant to the industry. Where no conflicts arise, there is a green light from the sector. This process has successfully screened the ASIs within the planning area.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• Mineral exploration companies are encouraged to liaise with local communities or First Nations, and some do this.  An information gap still exists in some communities.

Discussion on Planning  

Active mineral claims give certain land access and occupation rights to the holder.  These need to be considered when alternative land uses are proposed.  Where mineral exploration takes place on a First Nation’s traditional lands, the Round Table may wish to provide some guidance on how relationships can be strengthened. 

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Species at Risk  

Brief Review of Findings  

Several species occur near or within the planning area that are on either Manitoba’s lists of species at risk (various levels of threat) and the federal lists under the Species at Risk Act or lists from COSEWIC.  In some cases, these lists differ.  The major difference is on woodland caribou, which is listed as Threatened by COSEWIC, but not mentioned by Manitoba .  Knowledge of the distribution and abundance of species at risk is hampered by access, and infrequent surveys, especially in the northern half of the planning area.  Data are scarce.  Data that do exist are accessible through the Conservation data Centre.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• The main gap is a lack of data on distribution and abundance of species. Additional inventory and species surveys are necessary before a better understanding of species at risk can be obtained.
• Coordination between provincial and federal lists of species at risk already occurs, but there continues to be differences in what species are deemed to be at risk 

Discussion on Planning

Under federal species at risk legislation, recovery strategies are required for threatened species.  The existence of species at risk in a specific location may limit or affect local land uses, but there is incomplete knowledge of where these areas are.  The lack of information on species at risk on the East Side means that plans and land uses may proceed without a full understanding of the consequences to biodiversity.    Guidance from the Round Table on minimizing the risk of this could form part of the Broad Area Plan.  

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Wildlife  

Brief Review of Findings  

Wildlife can be divided into game, non-game and fur-bearer populations. The game and fur-bearers are the groups that get most of the attention.  The population of key concern is caribou, which has limited populations and ranges on the East Side .  These populations can be affected by logging and increased access.  The herds in the Owl-Flintstone range and in the Atikaki-Berens range are thought to be at high risk; those further north are not.  Manitoba does not list this species as threatened or of special concern.  There is on-going research on these herds involving telemetry, habitat assessment and aerial surveys.   

Commercial trapping data suggests that trapping success is declining for some species.  The part of the planning area this applies to cannot be specified.  There is a trapper compensation program operated by Hydro that would be available in the event that trapping losses are experienced because of disturbance from a transmission line.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• More inventory information is needed on populations of moose and other game animals, especially in the northern part of the planning area.
• More support for caribou research is needed.
• No data are available for the number of animals trapped on non-commercial traplines.
• More surveys and wildlife inventories for non-game species are needed, especially in the northern art of the planning area. 
• Local knowledge of wildlife is very important but probably underutilized in the management of wildlife 

Discussion on Planning  

The ungulates and fur-bearers are extremely important to the local people. Attention to improving inventory and population information will enhance management efforts.  More hunting and disturbance pressure can be expected on animals like moose and caribou as human populations increase on the East Side , and access to new areas develops.  Collaboration on wildlife management between local communities, First Nations and wildlife officials is key to sustaining wildlife populations at healthy levels.  The Round Table could provide guidance on improving this collaboration.

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Fisheries  

Brief Review of Findings  

There is good information on commercial and recreational fisheries within the planning area.  The annual angling guide gives creel limits for sport species of fish on specific lakes based on surveys or other information, with a view to sustaining sport fish populations. There are over 50 high quality management lakes within the East Side planning area.  Some fish enhancement work is being done to improve spawning habitat for various species.  Strategies to protect some non-game fish species are being prepared.  

Information/Policy Gaps

• Provincial fisheries officials do not have full information on fish populations, and often rely on anecdotal information from fishermen and local people
• Lack of good information may unintentionally put some fish populations at risk of overexploitation.
• Commercial fishing potential exists in the larger lakes in the planning area but access to markets is a limiting factor.  An all-weather road some time in the future may create more opportunity to market fish.

Discussion on Planning

Improved road access over time will increase the pressure on recreational fisheries.  These often form the basis of important tourism and guide-outfitter businesses. The importance of this to local economies is often unappreciated.  An all-weather road may influence the development of commercial fishing on larger lakes.  Appropriate management will lead to healthy fish populations and sustainable fisheries. These elements need to be taken into account when recommending where to place the priority and funding on resource management.  

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Conclusions

This report should be read along with the companion summary table.  Out of necessity, these reports present an overview of the key resource concerns pertinent to the Broad Area Plan activity of the Round Table.  In most cases, much more specific information is available at the sources and contacts presented in the table. In this regard, many documents found in the course of this work are filed at the East Side secretariat office.

A general conclusion can be drawn that natural resource data and information in the northern half of the planning area, north of approximately the 53^rd parallel, is scarce.  Planning and resource allocation there should proceed with caution.  The opportunity exists to do good planning, but more information is needed.  By contrast, the southern part of the planning area has better resource information, but also there have been numerous land use decisions there already.  These narrow the policy and planning options for the Round Table to consider.  

At the broad area plan level, the Round Table is likely to not get too specific, but rather stay at the strategic, policy level.  Where there is insufficient information to address a specific issue, such as the absence of the planning study on an all-weather road system, the Round Table cannot wait for this before it makes recommendations.  In cases where information is short, perhaps the best the Round Table can do is to provide policy guidance, or guiding principles, and identify the steps necessary to develop a more detailed approach.  There is much opportunity for the Round Table to help set direction and clarify the long-term vision for the East Side . The important policy areas highlighted in this report and accompanying table include:  

• The approach that should be adopted toward protected areas in the planning area, based on both technical and community concerns and goals.
• Whether or not the concept of an all-weather road network is supported, and encouragement given to governments to conduct the necessary planning study.
• Improve coordination with Crown Lands Branch so that recreational subdivisions and other alienations of crown lands fit the vision that the Round Table develops for the area.
• Recommendations or guidance to ensure that forestry practices are leading to sustainable uses of the forest, not only for wood products but also for other forest uses, such as biodiversity, recreation, and aesthetics.
• Whether or not a new transmission line is supported, and if so, the RT could recommend some guiding principles on siting and community involvement.
• Some guidance concerning achieving proper protection for species at risk.
• Some guidance concerning what priority should be given to important species of fish or wildlife, and what the management objectives for these species should be. 

This report only deals with natural resources issues that were raised as important during the interviews.  There are other areas to examine that could also be appropriate and useful to the Round Table.  First, this summary does not include information available from the First Nations in the planning area.  The addition of this information could substantially enhance the knowledge base, and aid in decision-making.  Second, there is no assessment here of the economic opportunities that the natural resources in the area offer.  The Round Table may want to consider a specific set of development directions, such as ecotourism or forestry development.  Such considerations are not dealt with by this report, and a more focused economic or market analysis would be needed to support them.  

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