Morice Land & Resource Management Plan

The Morice land and resource management planning process began in 2002 and ended in 2007 with an approved plan. Planning involved extensive consultation with stakeholders, First Nations’ representatives from the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, Lake Babine Nation/Nedo’ats and Yekooche Nation, local government and the public.

Initial concerns included how the Morice Land and Resource Mangement Plan (LRMP) could be used to help improve the local economy, contribute to strong and stable communities and promote the long-term health of the environment.

In 2007, using the Morice LRMP as a guide, the B.C. government, First Nations and the forest industry began to develop goals and objectives for biodiversity in the area, including:

• Protecting old growth forests
• Increasing the protection of forests around important areas such as river corridors
• Increasing the protection of forested areas for wildlife 
• Identifying areas where logging would not be allowed
• Identifying areas which could be developed 

These goals and objectives resulted in the 2016 Land Use Objectives Regulation Order for the Morice LRMP Area establishing objectives for biodiversity respecting forest and range activities. In particular, objectives were established for areas with high biodiversity emphasis, specific management, old growth, no timber harvesting, and wildlife tree retention. At the same time, an environmental protection and management regulation order established old growth management areas respecting oil and gas activities.  

Several conservancies were also established as a result of the Morice LRMP.