Land use is incredibly complex. Topics and issues like ecosystem health, First Nations right and title, natural resource management, and rural community needs are inter-related.

In 2018, the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) partnered with The Firelight Group to examine trends, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable land use. Through this project, we reviewed literature, interviewed land use experts, and conducted a survey of land managers and other professionals. REFBC also commissioned a public opinion poll on land use, sustainability, and rural planning.

Our findings are available in a new report, Beyond the Horizon.

We learned that climate adaptation, cumulative effects, and ecosystem degradation are major challenges for land managers, especially in rural areas. In many parts of the province, Indigenous communities are leading the way on land use planning, governance, and conservation initiatives.

We’ve grouped these findings into seven themes:

• Climate change and the sustainable economy
• Cross-sectoral coordination
• Environmental laws and policies in rural communities
• Indigenous-led initiatives
• Ecosystem conservation
• Rural-urban disparities
• Public perceptions of land use

With help from advisors, we identified five priorities:

1. Coordinate land use actors and initiatives to harmonize planning with a geographic area.
2. Align land use frameworks to guide decision-making and track impacts.
3. Mobilize land use education and outreach to engage citizens and share data.
4. Support Indigenous-led processes for land use planning, management, and governance.
5. Adapt the roles of non-profits to complement Indigenous and local government leadership.

For each priority, we’ve suggested recommendations for future actions.

The findings from this project will help to inform REFBC’s grantmaking and partnerships.

Downloads:

• Beyond the Horizon: Sustainable Land Use in British Columbia [Report]
• Sustainable Land Use: A Public Opinion Survey of British Columbians [Opinion Highlights]
• Media Release