Islanders who want to get involved in the land use planning process just getting underway here should put their names forward now.
If you're interested, you can learn about the Land Use Planning Process at meetings next week. Meetings will be held in Skidegate on Monday, Sandspit on Tuesday and Queen Charlotte on Wednesday.
The province and the Council of the Haida Nation have agreed to create a land use plan that accommodates Haida interests and uses an ecosystem based management model, explained co-process coordinator Leah Malkinson at a meeting in Masset Thursday.
The purpose of the plan is to give direction for land use decisions. It applies to all crown land outside of parks, including inland freshwater resources. The plan will divide the islands into zones. The key values and characteristics of each zone will be described and a clear management direction for each zone will be created.
The province and the CHN are looking for 10 to 15 volunteers to work on the plan over the next 15 months. Volunteers should be able to work on the plan for three to five days a month, and should represent some kind of "sector". People who want one of these seats need to put their names forward by April 22.
For more information, contact Kim Lewis at 626-5252 or Ms Malkinson at 559-4768.