An assessment of integrated resource planning as a response to preservation versus development conflicts in B.C.
Date
1986
Authors
Searle, D. Richard
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Abstract
There are approximately 187 issues involving preservation versus development currently active in British Columbia. Many of these involve important forest lands. One of the typical responses to forest land use conflicts has been attempts at integrated resource planning. To reach an effective resolution, trade-offs and compromises are required. However, integrated resource planning appears to be ineffective at resolving preservation issues. This thesis seeks to reveal the reasons for ineffectiveness through the exploration of the nature of the preservation versus development debate and the integrated resource planning process as it is practised in British Columbia. The concepts of Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP) and New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) are employed to demonstrate that a fundamental difference in values exists between the protagonists involved in the planning process. Furthermore, by virtue of the values held by participants, the planning process is shown to be NEP oriented, reflecting a fairly strong degree of acceptance of the environmental message . The research also reveals distinct differences in perceptions- of integrated resource planning as well as strong support for preservation as a preferred land use option. Differences in perceptions of integrated resource planning are shown to generate considerable confusion and exacerbate the conflict. The thesis concludes that integrated resource planning will remain ineffective at resolving land use conflicts until there is a fundamental change in forest management and its philosophy . Specifically , both the philosophy and practice of integrated resource planning needs to be reformed to include preservation as a valid form of forest land use.