This includes such activities as controlling waste discharges to air, ground and water; regulating sand and gravel extraction activities; habitat protection and species management; mining and forestry practices and water quality.

However, because human land use activities can have such a profound effect on these matters, local government planning programs typically work closely with these Provincial agencies to help them achieve their management objectives. For example, all Regional District Official Community Plan amendments and rezonings must be carefully scrutinized by these agencies before they can be approved in order to ensure that they don't conflict with their respective interests.

The Regional District Planning Department is responsible for coordinating this review process. The Regional District also occasionally becomes directly involved in environmental protection. This would include such things as the enactment of the Regional District's Flood Plain Management Bylaw and the adoption of Zoning Bylaws that reduce the opportunities for adverse environmental impacts and resource conflicts.

Visit the website of the Government of British Columbia for more information about the Provincial environmental protection.

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