Unit 4 - Alberta's Integrated Resource Planning


Lesson 2: Alberta's Land-use Planning

 

The Responsibility of Land-use Planning

Land-use planning is a responsibility shared by the provincial government and local municipalities. Several pieces of legislation govern the planning process, the two major pieces being:

The coordination of planning activities is a key factor in sustainable development and long-term use of public lands, including forests.

Industrial Users of Public Lands and Forests

You may have seen commercial logging operations taking place in publicly-owned forests, or perhaps mining operations. 

It is important to realize that all industrial users of forested public lands, similar to municipal users, share in the responsibility of treating our forests (and all public lands) in a manner that sustains its long-term use and the resources it offers for future generations.

 

In this image, the shorter wooded area shows evidence of reforestation after logging; the taller area consists of unharvested trees. This provides a variety to the forest as it grows back after logging.


The coordination of land-use planning by the provincial government and local municipalities also helps achieve local economic development as well as other local land-use objectives.