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Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project moving forward

Press Release

Summary

  • On Jan. 15, 2026, four ministerial orders were signed to advance the implementation of the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project on Vancouver Island
  • The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project has been jointly developed by the B.C. government and ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, with extensive input from industry, the public, communities, stakeholders and other interested parties
  • Among other goals, this project seeks to promote the values agreed upon through engagement, including: protect biodiversity, ecosystems and ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation cultural values within the Nimpkish Valley watershed; provide improved operational clarity for the forestry industry; and balance environmental, social and economic values within the planning area

The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project has reached another milestone with the signing of four ministerial orders to support environmental sustainability, First Nations reconciliation and economic growth in Vancouver Island’s Nimpkish Valley.

The planning area encompasses more than 166,000 hectares in the Nimpkish Valley, near Alert Bay and Port McNeill, including Vancouver Island’s longest river and a variety of ecosystems that are home to old-growth forests, abundant wildlife and all five species of Pacific wild salmon. Since 2021, the Province and ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation have led a collaborative process to update land-use objectives for the planning area, with considerable input from stakeholders, industry, local governments, members of the public and other interested groups.

“It’s important to have long-lasting, forward-looking plans to manage the environment and natural resources in a way that benefits everyone – and that’s exactly what we’re doing in the Nimpkish Valley,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “This planning project is a wonderful example of how, when we all work together transparently and openly to determine our values for the future of our province, we create certainty and predictability for everyone who lives in this beautiful area.”

Elected Chief Victor Isaac said: “The ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation is pleased to see the first steps taken to implement the joint Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project recommendations. The changes to the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan are the foundation for improved stewardship of resources in our territory, respect for our forest and cultural values, and will contribute to the predictability needed for a sustainable forest sector on our region.”

Goals of the project

The planning project is guiding what can happen on lands, rivers, lakes, watersheds and forests in the planning area. It details areas that will be protected and how people, communities and industry will manage the environment, biodiversity and wildlife, important cultural sites and uses, as well as tourism, recreation and natural resource development.

Collectively, the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project and the four ministerial orders seek to:

  • help protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation cultural values within the watershed
  • enhance ecosystem protection and conserve culturally significant sites
  • balance important environmental, social and economic values in the affected area
  • establish legal objectives for land-use intensity that support a modernized approach to integrated resource management in the Nimpkish Valley
  • develop updated land-use direction to achieve a shared land stewardship vision
  • provide improved operational clarity for the forestry industry within ’Na̱mg̱is territory

The project also supports the Tree Farm Licence 37 Forest Landscape Plan. In December 2025, ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation and the Province signed a joint decision-making agreement that advances reconciliation by supporting predictable harvesting and sustainable forestry operations on the north Island. They will use this agreement to jointly establish Forest Landscape Plans and approve associated Forest Operations Plans within the area of Tree Farm Licence 37 that overlaps ’Na̱mg̱is territory.

“Advancing the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project sets a strong foundation for sustainable land use on the north Island,” said Steven Hofer, president and CEO, Western Forest Products. “Western’s work in the region is strengthened by our collaboration with ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation and their forward-thinking approach demonstrated through this land-use planning process.”

What happens next

The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project team has evaluated the existing land-use planning framework for the region – the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan – to provide more effective management direction for resource, cultural, wildlife and recreational values found within the project area.

Consensus-based land-use recommendations will continue to move forward in phases. It is expected that additional engagement with members of the public and other parties will be required as the project progresses in the years to come.

Effective land-use planning benefits everyone in B.C.

Work on the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project began in 2021. Since then, the project team has completed multiple phases of plan initiation and development work, and a variety of engagement activities with communities, First Nations, interest holders, industry, local government and the public. Engagement activities included phone calls, letters, emails, information sessions, interest group discussions, surveys, public comment forms and open houses. Most recently, a 60-day public review and comment period related to the ministerial orders ran from Sept. 19 to Nov. 18, 2025. A detailed list of engagement activities and results can be found here: https://planninginpartnership.ca/p/6038070ec65ea900200bbf5a/documents;currentPage=1;pageSize=100;sortBy=-dateAdded;ms=1768597170973

Land-use planning in B.C. is focused on building positive, lasting relationships and trust between the B.C. government, First Nations, communities, stakeholders and the public. This process is key to developing enduring solutions to advance reconciliation with First Nations, support the natural-resource sector and help build B.C.’s economy.

By seeking input from the public and working with communities and other interested parties, land-use planning helps identify important areas for conservation and for recreational activities. It also supports long-term predictability for industry by clearly defining areas where natural resource development is allowed and where it is restricted.

Learn More:

Three backgrounders follow.

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPEWLRS.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

BACKGROUNDER 1

Facts about the project

  • Gwa’ni is a ’Na̱mg̱is name for the Nimpkish River.
  • The word “Nimpkish” is an anglicized term referring to ’Na̱mg̱is.
  • The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project covers more than 166,000 hectares on Vancouver Island within the Nimpkish River watershed south of Port McNeill.
  • It includes most of the Upper and Lower Nimpkish areas of land identified for long-term planning of resource management activities within ’Na̱mg̱is Territory.
  • Land-use plans establish strategic direction to guide sustainable resource stewardship of provincial public land and water, setting high-level direction to define what can occur on the land base and where.
  • Land-use plans and land-use planning processes only apply to public (Crown) land.
  • People can continue to access Crown land in a land use planning area for recreation, hunting and other activities, in accordance with the existing management direction for that area.

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPEWLRS.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

BACKGROUNDER 2

Report on public engagement available

The B.C. government facilitated extensive discussions, including open houses and other public engagement opportunities, with project partners, First Nations, industry, communities, members of the public, stakeholders, and other interested parties as the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project progressed.

The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project Team sought input from stakeholders to ensure that their interests, values and concerns would be considered throughout the life of the project. In the spring and fall of 2021, letters and postcards were sent to stakeholders and interest groups to announce the project and inform them of upcoming engagement opportunities. An online public survey was also launched to gather feedback from a broader audience. In 2021, five virtual meetings were held with local government representatives and key stakeholder groups.

Feedback received during these sessions has been summarized in the Gwa’ni Project Engagement Report: What We Heard, which is available online: https://www.planninginpartnership.ca/api/document/66be79265e4805003904c945/fetch/2024_8_13_GWANI_LUP_What_We_Heard__FINAL.pdf

Additional engagement opportunities in 2023 and 2024 informed the development of the project technical team’s consensus recommendations. A 60-day public review and comment period related to the ministerial orders ran from Sept. 19 to Nov. 18, 2025.

A detailed list of engagement activities and results can be found here: https://planninginpartnership.ca/p/6038070ec65ea900200bbf5a/commenting

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPEWLRS.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

BACKGROUNDER 3

What people are saying about the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project

‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation hereditary Chief Ho’miskanis (Don Svanvik) –

“The implementation of the Gwa’ni recommendations to change the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan is an important recognition of our jurisdiction and responsibility for stewardship of resources and land in our territory. Following decades of concerns from the nation about the enhanced forestry designation within our territory that prioritized harvest over other important values, the Gwa’ni project provided a new approach. The collaborative planning work led to consensus recommendations demonstrating that our governments, stakeholders, our members and the public can find workable solutions to protect the environment and promote sustainable economies.”

Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests –

“When we forge powerful partnerships with First Nations, we deliver big things. This announcement means real support for coastal forestry, with more opportunities for workers. It also provides greater certainty for our environment and for ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation culture. By supporting the Forest Landscape Plan for Tree Farm Licence 37, this Land Use Planning Project helps create jobs, move fibre and advance reconciliation. This is our work toward building a sustainable, working forest.”

Mike Willie, owner, Sea Wolf Adventures –

“As a Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw tourism operator from a neighbouring nation, I deeply value the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project’s approach to stewardship. This collaboration between ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation and the Province honours our shared cultural understanding that healthy lands sustain all life. By protecting biodiversity and cultural sites while providing clarity for industry, the project safeguards what visitors truly seek — intact ecosystems and living Indigenous cultures that have thrived here since time immemorial.”

James Furney, mayor, Port McNeill –

“Port McNeill is proud to acknowledge the hard work shared by the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation and B.C. in the land use planning process. B.C.’s future is dependent on world-leading conservation, forest practices and forestry policy. The Gwa’ni project is a testament to both. I compliment the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation, B.C. and industry for pulling the rope in the same direction and prioritizing the forest, not merely a fibre supply. Generations of north Islanders and British Columbians will benefit from the certainty and stability that comes with this endeavour.”

Patricia Corbett-Labatt, mayor, Port Hardy –

“I look forward to the implementation phase and the economic benefits this project will bring to the north Island. The Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project provides important planning and operational clarity, helping to create stability for the local forestry sector and support increased, sustainable harvest levels over time. This project sets a blueprint for efficient and environmentally responsible logging, while reinforcing the value of working in partnership with Indigenous communities to build a resilient regional economy.”

David Summers, electoral director for Area “D” (Woss), on behalf of the Mount Waddington Regional Government –

“Initial progress on the project has been very encouraging and is providing steady work for our residents, and security for our communities on the north Island. This has also provided the ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation with a plan that addresses their concerns for the future of our forests, fish, wildlife and cultural diversity. Many of us also share many of those concerns. We need to continue moving ahead to provide a certain future for us and future generations.”

Brian Cant, president, 4TVI (Tourism Vancouver Island) –

“I am excited by the progression of the Gwa’ni Land Use Planning Project. Its focus on First Nations reconciliation, environmental sustainability and economic growth directly aligns with the long-term tourism development strategy for northern Vancouver Island. The project presents a great opportunity for the stewardship of balanced and sustainable land use for the benefit of future generations.”

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPEWLRS.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

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