656-1151 by Hubert Beyer Special to The Review Victoria — Commercial back- country recreation is fast emerging aS a major component of British Columbia’s tourism industry, and it’s no wonder that the government is NOW moving towards more strictly regulating outdoor activi- ties in the province’s unspoiled backcountry areas. Socalled commercial backcoun- try recreation encompasses a wide range of recreational activities pro- vided on a fee-for-service basis. They include guided hunting and fishing operations, heli-hiking, trail riding, ski-touring and snow- mobiling. Since public use can have adverse effects on land, as we have seen in the case of the West Coast Trail which suffers from over-use, the government, as the guardian of all Crown land, has an obligation to regulate such use. A policy paper now being widely circulated among stakehol- ders in backcountry recreation activities outlines proposals for future regulations goveming this part of the province’s tourism industry. Initial reaction from the public indicates a lot of interest. Of the more than 900 people who responded to the government's call last year for input into future policy, most agreed that there was a need to manage this rapidly growing industry. A number of respondents cau- tioned, not unexpectedly, that there should be absolutely no commer- cial development if it meant that true undeveloped wilderness area will be lost or damaged. The overriding issue, however, was the desire to retain unre- stricted public access to backcoun- try Crown land. The strong message was that public use should take priority over commercial use, and that commercial operations shouldn’t restrict public access. In other words, most respon- dents felt that no private operator of whatever backcountry recrea- tion activity should be given a monopoly over Crown land. A secondary theme emerging from the responses was a general desire to place commercial inter- ests second to environmental pro- tection. That doesn’t mean most respon- dents were against commercial operations in unspoiled areas, but they would like to see a limit * placed on the size of the opera- tions to safe-guard ecological integnty and biological diversity. Others expressed strong views on retaining public ownership of Crown land. Environment Minister John Cashore said many of the letters showed great pride in the prov- ince’s natural heritage and strongly opposed the sale of Crown land, partcularly to foreign owners. Based on this initial response, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks has developed a set of policy proposals, but Cashore stressed that these poli- - cies are not final. _ Further input is sought and briefs can be submitted until Octo- ber 31-to the ministry*s land 4 — policy brand, 1802 Douglas, Wace a = _ tora B.C, V8V. 1X4. Vi stare eK _ The current policy soe be accommodate most of the con- cems expressed so far. They place environmental protection ahead of both public and commercial use of backcountry recreation areas. Under the proposed policies, commercial uses would not be approved if they had a negative impact on the land. The government also sees back- country recreation as an opportu- nity for resource-based communi- * ties to diversify their economic base. Consequently, all activities are to be managed with a view towards helping communities who are suf- fering from a down-sizing of the forest industry. Equally important, the govern- ment doesn’t intend to lord it over the communities who have a stake in the backcountry recreation industry. Policy proposals call for local involvement, facilitated by the Commission on Resources and Environment under Stephen Owen. Whenever an application for the use of Crown land for backcountry recreation activities is being con- sidered, regional offices of the lands branch will solicit local public input. Existing operators will not be affected by the new policy, unless they want to add new activities or are now operating without any formal government approval. In either of those cases, they would be subject to the new policy. There has, so far, been one really negative reaction to the proposed policy, and that is the proposal that the government would not have to compensate existing operators if it decided to restrict their activities. As in the case of the govern- ment’s attempt not to compensate mining companies for any mineral rights it may cancel, I whole- heartedly agree with the respon- dents. If the government, even for the best of reasons, reduces someone’s potential income, compensation is a moral if not a legal obligation. Apart from that, a comprehen- sive policy for the use of Crown land for whatever purpose is to be welcomed. FOR THE PRICE OF THE LOT... The house comes almost free! Cosy 1 Br home in the Orchard, 8th Ave. area. Priced to move at $135,000. 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