BC Gov News
Summary
- Members of the public are invited to provide feedback until July 20, 2026, on proposed land use objectives in the Sea to Sky region
- In June 2025, the B.C. government and Squamish Nation signed the Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement (Phase 2), building on the earlier Phase 1 land-use planning agreement completed with the Squamish Nation in 2007
- If approved, the proposed land use objectives would implement the forest management direction from the 2025 Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement while increasing operational certainty for the forestry industry in the affected area
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Members of the public are invited to learn about proposed land use objectives for the Sea to Sky Region and provide feedback.
If approved, the implementation of the land use objectives would help protect Indigenous cultural and environmental values and also provide increased operational certainty for the forestry industry in the area covered by the 2025 Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement (Phase 2).
“By honouring Squamish Nation’s connection to the land and applying their traditional knowledge to forest stewardship in this area, we are charting a path forward that balances economic opportunity with environmental stability,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “These proposed land use objectives also reflect our government’s commitments to reconciliation, ecosystem protection and climate change resilience.”
The B.C. government worked collaboratively with Squamish Nation (sḵwx̱wú7mesh úxwumixw) during the Phase 2 land-use planning process to identify 33 Síiyamiin (cultural and historical sites of significance) covering more than 4,250 hectares. They also identified six special cultural management areas covering more than15,800 hectares of cultural and ecological importance. The proposed land use objectives were developed afterward for these areas.
Benefits of the proposed land use objectives
The proposed objectives, which would be implemented under the Land Act, deal with topics such as:
- cultural heritage areas
- old forests
- mature forests
- large cedar trees
- riparian and wetland areas
- trees modified for cultural purposes
The land use objectives would support key goals of the Phase 2 agreement, including management direction related to forest biodiversity, old forests, cultural heritage areas, large cedar trees, riparian and wetland areas, and trees modified for cultural purposes.
The objectives would result in the protection of nearly 7,250 hectares of forest lands, including 925 hectares of deferred old-growth forest identified in the Old Growth Strategic Review. Through this process, other productive forest lands may be made available to help balance economic needs in the area.
Have your say
Members of the public can review and comment on the proposed land use objectives from Friday, May 22, 2026, until 4 p.m. on July 20, 2026.
The draft ministerial order containing the proposed land use objectives, including maps and digital spatial files, can be viewed or downloaded here: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/squamish-nation-land-use
Hard copies of the documents and associated maps are also available for viewing at the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District office, 101-42000 Loggers Lane, Squamish, and the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District office, 7077 Duncan St., Powell River.
Written comments can be sent to:
Regional Initiatives, Land Use Planning and Cumulative Effects Division, South Coast region
Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
200-10428 153rd St.
Surrey, B.C.
V3R 1E1
Email: [email protected]
Comments from public engagement will be reviewed, summarized and provided to the statutory decision-maker by the end of 2026.
Quotes:
Ruth Simons, convenor of the Howe Sound Community Forums and executive director of the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society –
“The land-use agreement between the Squamish Nation and the Province is a very significant and historic milestone for our region. By expanding Indigenous-led sustainable forestry practices and creating greater predictability for land-use decisions, the agreement supports both ecological and economic resilience. Most importantly, the agreement helps conserve larger areas of Howe Sound’s rich biodiversity for future generations while supporting long-term stewardship of the land.”
Kate-Louise Stamford, Gambier Island local trustee, Islands Trust –
“The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Land Use Plan safeguards about a quarter of Chá7elkwnech/Gambier Island from industrial and forestry activities. One of the largest of the Síiyamiin cultural sites protects an area of deep significance to the Nation, consequently advancing long-held community goals for island forest protection and watershed health. This demonstrates how Squamish Nation stewardship and local conservation values align in a shared vision for the island’s future.”
Quick Facts:
- In June 2025, Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests; Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; and Squamish Nation representatives signed the Squamish Nation Land Use Planning Agreement (Phase 2) at the Sea to Sky Gondola.
- The agreement helps guide forest stewardship in Squamish Nation territory in the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District and the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District, while also protecting Indigenous cultural values.
Learn More: