B.C. and Indigenous Nations Collaborate on Land-Use Planning for Northwestern B.C.

The Province of BC has teamed up with the Tahltan, Gitanyow, and Nisga’a, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena Nations, to kick off land-use planning in northwestern B.C. This effort will involve 16 million hectares of land near the Alaska and Yukon borders, aiming to create comprehensive plans that balance conservation with resource development.

Premier David Eby emphasized the importance of this partnership for fostering large-scale conservation while enabling economic growth through critical mineral development. The plans will identify key areas for Indigenous-led conservation, such as wild salmon habitats, while also pinpointing regions where resource extraction could take place sustainably. Over the next year, the Province and First Nations will engage with local communities, industry, and conservation groups to finalize the plans.

A temporary one-year pause on new mining-tenure registrations will help facilitate the planning process, though existing projects will continue. The initiative aims to protect biodiversity and cultural values while creating new economic opportunities in one of B.C.’s most pristine regions.