Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, April 13, 2007

Calgary, Alta - Dehcho First Nations has the support of four conservation groups for their proposed Dehcho Land Use Plan.

On April 4, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Canadian Boreal Initiative, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Ducks Unlimited Canada voiced their support for the land use plan at a news conference in Calgary.

The groups called on the federal government to support the plan.

The Dehcho First Nations' land use plan is an example of how community vision, in partnership with government and conservation organizations, can develop a plan that protects ecological and cultural integrity, said Larry Innes, acting executive director of Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI).

He added the land use plan balances environmental and cultural sensitivity with future economic and industrial development.

CBI considers the land use plan to have a well-thought-out economic strategy that ties development to local needs and sets the right pace, he said.

"From our perspective it's a very well-thought-out and well-supported land use plan that could be adopted elsewhere in the North," said Innes.

The land use plan has been a sticking point in negotiations between the Dehcho First Nations and the federal government.

Both the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories have raised concerns about elements of the land use plan, saying in its current form neither government will approve it.

In January, the governments said the plan protects too much land from development. The current plan prohibits almost all forms of non-renewable development in 69 per cent of the region. The governments have proposed 40 per cent conservation.

In the past, the federal government's chief negotiator has said the Dehcho's land use plan is out of sync with the rest of the territory and the world. Similar plans drafted in other jurisdictions do not include such a high level of conservation, adding that it would not allow for enough development for the region to be sustainable.

Conservation groups have a hard time understanding the government's position, said Innes.

"We're surprised the government of Canada is not supporting this plan given they were part of the land use planning committee that developed it," he said.

The four conservation organizations at the conference are calling on the government to do what they said they would do and implement the plan, Innes said.

"We're quite surprised the government of Canada is not seeing this for what it is, which is really a key to taking a rational and well-thought-out approach to development in the North," he said.

The plan provides for many of the things that the federal government says they want, including sustainable development and the Mackenzie Gas Project, said Innes.

"It's now an opportunity for the government of Canada to do the right thing both in terms of the Deh Cho and the rest of Canada," said Innes.

CBI called the news conference, which brought together the four conservation organizations involved in the CBI's Boreal Leadership Council.

Although support from the conservation groups has been ongoing, the Dehcho First Nations is pleased to see them turn their energy towards the land use plan, said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

The land use plan is a chance for the federal government to show leadership in the environment, said Norwegian. The government talks about wanting to be green but they need to take on initiatives, he said.

"Here is a government that is talking about it but really doing nothing," said Norwegian.

The government also needs to approve the plan if they want to see the Dehcho First Nations approve the Mackenzie Gas Project.

"If there is no plan, there will be no pipeline," said Norwegian.