Ministry of Environment
Environmental Stewardship Division
Best Management Practices
The Ministry of Environment (formerly Water, Land and Air Protection) is preparing another update to its Environmental Objectives, Best Management Practices and Requirements for Land Developments document. This document is an important part of the Ministry’s approach to assist local government and Ministry of Transportation planning and approval staff in the environmental review of land development and land management proposals (e.g. subdivisions, re-zonings, development permits and operational work).
The document sets out the Ministry’s environmental objectives and recommendations (Best Management Practices), based on the best available science, in order to effectively protect environmental values. It also includes the Ministry’s requirements where the proposed land development activity is, in whole or in part, regulated under ministry legislation.
The primary objective is to provide a consistent, proactive response to the authorities responsible for regulating and conducting land development activities. The document sets out standards to be used—for example, development setbacks and buffers around sensitive ecosystems—and legal mechanisms that can be used to protect sensitive habitats.
The Ministry is currently conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of this BMP approach to land developments.
Version 3 (March 2001) of the Environmental Objectives, Best Management Practices and Requirements for Land Developments document can be downloaded from the Ministry Vancouver Island region website, http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/van-island/, under the ‘Planning and Assessment’ tab. Version 4 should be available in Spring 2003.
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