Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Land Use Plan
Last updated on April 8, 2025The Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan (CCLUP), announced by the B.C. government in 1994, establishes the long-term balance of environment and economy in the Cariboo region.
The plan provides for:
- Access to timber for the local forest industry
- Certainty for mining, ranching and tourism industries
- Conservation and recreation objectives for natural values
- Economic and social stability
- Increased opportunities for growth and investment throughout the region
CCLUP was designated as a higher level plan in 1996 under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act (FPC). The CCLUP guided the application of the Code and other resource management activities within the plan area. When the FPC was replaced with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) in 2004, the resource management objectives, targets and strategies in the CCLUP were carried forward under the Land Act for the purposes of FRPA.
Completion of seven sustainable resource management plans (SRMPs) covering the entire Cariboo region was a key part of implementing the CCLUP. These plans address CCLUP strategies and targets at a sub-regional scale through detailed objectives and strategies for the management of natural resources and environmental values. Completed by 2007, these plans were endorsed by government and stakeholders, and remain as non-legal guidance.
Using the SRMPs as a foundation, an order was made in 2010 under the Land Use Objectives Regulation of the Land Act to set legal direction for forestry activities with respect to key resource values in the CCLUP area. The order contains objectives for biodiversity, wildlife trees, old growth forest, critical habitat for fish, community areas of special concern, lakes, riparian areas, mature birch retention, grasslands, scenic areas, recreation trails, high value wetlands for moose, and grizzly bear.
Several wildlife management strategies were completed for the CCLUP area. These strategies led to the approval of orders under the Government Actions Regulation of FRPA for habitat designations and management requirements for mule deer, caribou and other wildlife species.
Plan & Legal Direction
- CCLUP Ninety-day Implementation Process Report - 1995 (PDF)
- Map (PDF)
- Addendum (PDF)
- Note that the Cariboo-Chilcotin LUP (1994) is included as Appendix 1 in the report.
- Land Use Objectives for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan Area - Consolidated Order for Communication Purposes – Sep 6, 2018 (PDF, 0.4MB)
- Maps & Downloading Instructions
- Order Establishing Land Use Objectives for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan Area - effective Jun 24, 2010 (PDF, 0.7MB)
- Amendment #1: Consolidated Order Including Minor Amendment to Objective for Riparian Reserve Zones – effective May 24, 2011 (PDF, 0.9MB)
- Amendment #2: Order Amending Boundaries for Old Growth Management Areas in the Quesnel District – effective Nov 12, 2015 (PDF, 0.2MB)
- Amendment #3: Order Amending Boundaries for Old Growth Management Areas in the 100 Mile District – effective Jan 26, 2017 (PDF, 0.2MB)
- Amendment #4: Order for Minor Amendment to Definitions and Objectives for Fuel Management – effective Sep 6, 2018 (PDF, 0.5MB)
Sustainable Resource Management Plans
These plans address CCLUP strategies and targets at a sub-regional scale through detailed objectives and strategies for the management of natural resources and environmental values. The plans were endorsed by government and stakeholders, and remain as non-legal guidance.
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The biodiversity conservation strategy was prepared as part of the CCLUP implementation process. Completed in 1996, the strategy established landscape units, biodiversity emphasis options, and forest seral targets across the region. The strategy was developed using the process recommended in the Forest Practices Code Biodiversity Guidebook (PDF, 8.4MB). Updates notes provide technical clarification or additions to the biodiversity conservation strategy report.
Regional Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
Update Notes:
- Update Note #1: Key Assumptions & Recommendations For Use of the Inventory Adjustment Factor (PDF)
- Update Note #2: Amalgamation of Small NDT-BEC Units in Relation to Assessment of Seral Objectives and Old Growth Management Area Planning (PDF)
- Update Note #3: Definition of the Fir Group and Pine Group for Purposes of Seral Stage Assessments within NDT4 (PDF)
- Update Note #4: An Approach for Patch Size Assessments (PDF)
- Update Note #5: An Integrated Mountain Pine-Biodiversity Conservation Management Strategy (PDF)
- Update Note #6: Procedures for Implementation of the Mountain Pine Beetle-Biodiversity Strategy to Address Current Attack During the Outbreak Phase (PDF)
- Update Note #7b: An Integrated Strategy for Management of Biodiversity and Bark Beetles in Douglas-fir and Spruce Stands (PDF)
- Update Note #8: Strategy for Management of Mature Seral Forest and Salvage of Mountain Pine Beetle-Killed Timber (PDF)
- Update Note #9: Strategy for Management of Mature Seral Forest and Salvage of Mountain Pine Beetle-Killed Timber Within TFLs (PDF)
- Update Note #10: Salvage Harvesting of Transition Old Growth Management Areas Heavily Attacked by Mountain Pine Beetle or Spruce Beetle (PDF)
- Update Note #11: New Options for Old Growth Management Pine Beetle or Spruce Beetle (PDF)
- Update Note #12: Stand-Level Retention for Biodiversity (PDF)
- Update Note #14: The Function and Management of Old Growth Management Areas in the Cariboo-Chilcotin (PDF)
- Update Note #15: M+O Seral Management in Wildfire Areas (PDF)
Old Growth Management Areas
Old growth management areas (OGMAs) were legally established by an order made under the Land Use Objectives Regulation across all landscape units in the Cariboo region to retain old forest and natural successional processes.
Periodic Biodiversity Analysis
Implementation of the biodiversity conservation strategy is facilitated by periodic analysis of seral stage distribution and patch size for each combination of landscape unit and biogeoclimatic unit.
Seral Distribution Assessments:
Seral distribution reports document the amount of current “mature plus old” forest in each combination of landscape unit and biogeoclimatic (BEC) unit. The current amount of "mature plus old" is compared to "mature plus old" targets outlined in the biodiversity conservation strategy. Small BEC units may be amalgamated to meet "mature plus old" targets, as per the Biogeoclimatic Unit Amalgamation Table - 2007 (PDF).
Patch Size Assessments:
Update Note #4: An Approach to Patch Size Assessments (PDF) outlines the process for completing patch size assessments.
Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy
The management strategy for mule deer winter ranges in the CCLUP area guides forest harvest planning to restore and maintain mule deer winter range habitat suitability. The strategy provides practical direction for planning and practices at both the landscape and stand levels to integrate mule deer habitat values with industrial timber development.
The CCLUP Integration Report mandated the creation of the Cariboo regional mule deer winter range committee, comprised of ministry resource experts, to develop mule deer winter range plans and objectives.
Management Strategy for Mule Deer Winter Ranges in the Cariboo-Chilcotin:
- Part 1a: Management Plan for Shallow and Moderate Snowpack Zones - 2007 (PDF, 2.9MB)
- Part 1b: Management Plan for Transition and Deep Snowpack Zones - 2006 (PDF, 6.9MB)
Strategy Guidance:
- Information Note #1: Guidance for Fire-Damaged Stands - 2014 (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Information Note #2: Mule Deer Winter Range General Wildlife Measure Exemption Requests for Salvage of Insect-Killed Douglas-Fir - 2014 (PDF, 0.6MB)
- Information Note #3: Basal Area Requirements for Initiating Group Selection Harvest in Transition and Deep Snowpack Zones - 2017 (PDF, 0.8MB)
Approved Ungulate Winter Ranges for Mule Deer in the Cariboo region:
Additional Information:
Caribou Management Strategy
Strategy:
- CCLUP Mountain Caribou Strategy - 2000 (PDF, 13.6MB)
- CCLUP Mountain Caribou Strategy Update Note #1 - 2007 (PDF, 2.7MB)
- CCLUP Northern Caribou Strategy - 2002 (PDF, 11.6MB)
- CCLUP Northern Caribou Strategy Review: Update #1 - 2011 (PDF, 13.5MB)
Approved Wildlife Habitat Areas for Caribou in the Cariboo Region:
Grasslands Strategy
The grasslands strategy establishes and maintains a grassland benchmark area within which forest encroachment will be controlled, to protect values for both livestock grazing and biodiversity.
- Best Management Practice Guidelines for Harvesting Treatments on Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan Grassland Benchmark Sites (PDF)
- Forest Encroachment onto Grasslands and Establishment of a Grassland Benchmark Area (PDF, 23.8MB)
- Cariboo-Chilcotin Ecosystem Restoration Plan (PDF, 4.1MB)
- Cariboo-Chilcotin Ecosystem Restoration Priority Map (PDF, 11.4MB)
Climate Change
Analysis of past and potential future climate in the Cariboo region:
Goal 2 Protected Areas
Consistent with the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan and sub-regional sustainable resource management plans, several new parks and several additions to existing parks were established in the Cariboo region.
These areas were originally proposed and reviewed under the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan and sustainable resource management plan processes dating back to 1992 and have been modified numerous times to address various interests. These areas address the Goal 2 objectives of the Protected Area Strategy of British Columbia to protect special features within the region.
Regional Goal 2 History
Plan Status: Approved, legally established
Plan Area: 8,391,234 hectares
Natural Resource Region: Cariboo
Natural Resource Districts: 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Cariboo-Chilcotin
Timber Supply Areas: 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Cascadia
Contact information
Contact us if you have questions about land use planning in the Cariboo region.
250-302-4339