The Nanwakolas Council is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent to launch a new partnership in marine planning with the Province of British Columbia, and with coastal First Nations of Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast and North Coast.
The November 28, 2011 Letter of Intent creates the "Marine Planning Partnership for the North Pacific Coast" or "MaPP." This agreement creates a collaborative approach to developing marine plans with the province for the Northern Vancouver Island area, and to integrate this work with similar marine plans being prepared for Haida Gwaii, the North Coast, and the Central Coast. The MaPP partnership is intended to fill the gap created by the recent DFO decision (September 2011) to significantly scale back the scope and process of its ocean management plan for the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA).
The sub regional marine plans and the regional plan will be informed by scientific and technical advice where appropriate. An important feature of MaPP is that it will carry out meaningful and transparent community and public engagement with local governments, industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties. This may include advisory stakeholder committees and public input at key points in plan development. It's anticipated the marine plans will be completed by December, 2013.
Marine plans will incorporate an ecosystem-based management approach, which is inherent in First Nations' management of our marine environments and has been adopted by the Province, to ensure the co-existence of healthy marine ecosystems and human communities. Traditional ecological and local knowledge will inform the planning process and outcomes, which will include strategies that promote the economic, social and cultural well-being of B.C.'s coastal communities.
The Nanwakolas member First Nations are currently in the process of completing their individual marine plans, which will be integrated into a regional Nanwakolas Plan for the collective territories. This plan will be the basis of developing a broader sub-regional plan for Northern Vancouver Island area with the province, informed by scientific advice and stakeholder input. The regional plan will be used as the basis for input to DFO's broader PNCIMA planning process.
The collaborative planning partnership aligns with and builds on earlier successful agreements between the Nanwakolas Council and the Province, including the recent signed Reconciliation Protocol.