Unit 4 - Alberta's Integrated Resource Planning


Lesson 3: Integrating Plans for Resources and Land Use


Integrated Resource Plans

According to the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers' fact sheet on Integrated Forest Land-Use Planning, an "integrated land use plan serves as the backdrop for the allocation and wise use of the resources in a particular area of a forest, and for the conservation of the area's ecological integrity."
Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) outline the land and resource management intent for a planning area based on a landscape assessment. 

Such an assessment consists of the following three parts:

  • it includes the resources, physical and biological characteristics, and social values within the planning area
  • it identifies objectives for long-term management of the area to promote responsible use of the land in the future
  • it describes the type of activities that are compatible with this land and resource management direction. For example, public land may be designated for forestry, grazing, oil and gas, recreation, or other uses.


Integrated Land Management

Integrated land management (ILM) is the strategic planned approach to managing and reducing the human-caused footprint on public land. Its goals are:

  • to reduce land-use disturbances relative to what would occur in the absence of integrated efforts
  • to foster a stewardship ethic in all land users
All land users are responsible for integrated land management. By working together, we can reduce our impact on the land by:

  • sharing the land
  • planning the use of our land together
  • building understanding through shared knowledge
  • practicing stewardship



The coordination of land-use planning by the provincial government and local municipalities also serves best to address environmental concerns as well as the social use of forests.