Evaluating protected areas selection processes: a case study of land use planning in British Columbia.

This paper evaluated the relative importance and use of criteria for designating PAs in British Columbia. It did this by surveying a sample of those stakeholders engaged in a PA selection process as part of a larger province-wide LRMP process. Consequently, the findings only reflect their viewpoints, and not necessarily those of other LRMP stakeholders who may have wanted other PA selection criteria afforded higher priorities. Notwithstanding this sampling issue, the findings provide insights into how the calculus of PA selection theory plays out in practice. It is clear from the responses of this study's respondents that:

* environmental criteria dominated the selection criteria in terms of perceived importance and use;

* social criteria were considered to be of moderate importance to PA selection processes and were perceived to have been used to a limited degree;

* economic criteria were considered to be of least importance to PA selection processes and were perceived to have received the least attention in the designation of PAs.

While the primary purpose of PAs is to protect ecological integrity and associated biodiversity, the literature also recognizes that significant social and economic benefits can be derived from strategically selected PAs. These benefits can bring greater sustainability to not only surrounding communities, but also to the PAs themselves. The challenge is to incorporate such perspectives into the PA selection processes at an early stage so that consideration of such factors is embedded in all management decision making. In BC's case, the Protected Areas Strategy placed strong emphasis on environmental criteria for protected area selection. However, it did not provide substantive procedures for incorporating socioeconomic considerations into the PA designation processes. As a result, social and economic criteria were not given as much attention by the stakeholders as warranted. Ironically, the long-term sustainability of the areas selected may eventually be compromised if the social and economic needs of surrounding communities are not supported by these PAs.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank SSHRC for funding support for this research and the anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions.

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