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Cathedral provincial park enlargement-socio-economic and administrative problems

University of British Columbia

The land use problem that exists in Cathedral Park and the area on either side has been described and enough background information has been obtained to identify the existing problems and propose possible solutions. Cathedral Park was created as a Class 'A' Provincial Park in 1968, mainly due to the efforts of a Parks Society, the Okanagan-Similkameen Parks Society (OSPS). The 18,217 acres included at present in the Park are considered by the Society to be insufficient to afford adequate protection to the delicate features in the Park. It has been suggested that a buffer zone would, among other things, provide the required protection, would enlarge the Park to meet future increased demands for outdoor recreation areas, and through the use of natural boundaries would facilitate the management of the area for recreation. The OSPS has proposed that the present Park boundaries be extended to include an area of about 83,000 acres. On both sides of the Park, grazing and forestry are at present in practice. There also are a few mineral claims. Most of the region's natural resource users would rather see a combined use made of this area with recreation, grazing, and forestry being practiced simultaneously. To protect their interests they have grouped themselves into the British Columbia Interior Resource Users Council. The conflict between the preservationists (recreationists) and the traditional resource users has been in existance for a few years with both organizations exerting pressure on the government at different levels. This thesis sums up the situation and after an overall look at the problem proposes solutions to the conflict. Initially it was intended to evaluate economically several alternatives, but as the situation was studied in depth, new problems unrelated to the economics of the different alternatives emerged. Because many aspects are social and political the economics of this land use problem have been relegated to a secondary position. Revenues that would be lost as a result of reservation of the 83,000 acres for recreation and exclusion of other natural resource users, are important nonetheless. They ought to play an important role in developing solutions to the problem and are associated with several long standing contractual obligations to resource users that should not be dismissed lightly. In the initial stages of research many references were consulted. Once a general idea had been obtained of the problems and groups involved in the conflict, several trips were made to the region and taperecordings were made of interviews held. Four visits were made to the Park in order to gain familiarity with the area. Correspondence was maintained with government officials and concerned parties. As a result of the investigation it was concluded that at present it would be politically difficult and probably socially and economically undesirable to increase park acreage. It is suggested an integrated use of the area be practiced and that it be used as a case study in which the government can demonstrate its capacity to anticipate, meet, and solve land use problems effectively.

Text

2011-05-11

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/34475

Forestry

University of British Columbia

Graduate