Klappan Land Use Plan
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Feedback will be accepted until August 4, 2026 at 4 pm
Overview
Dates: July 2 to August 4, 2026
Who: The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
What: As part of the 2019 Klappan Plan, a recommended conservancy designation for the Klappan Sacred Headwaters Zone A and the former Coal License Purchase Agreement (CLPA) area
Where: Skeena Region
Why: To raise public awareness and provide the opportunity for feedback
How: Online
Photo credits:
Header: Brian Huntington
Right: Tahltan Central Government
2026 engagement: recommended conservancy
July 2 to August 4, 2026
The B.C. government and Tahltan Nation are working together to implement the 2019 Klappan Plan (PDF, 1.7MB). They recommend protecting the Klappan Sacred Headwaters as a conservancy under the Park Act. The recommended conservancy includes the Sacred Headwaters Zone A and the former Coal License Purchase Agreement (CLPA) area.
Please read the full recommendations report (PDF, 615KB) in order to provide feedback.
Conservancies are lands set aside under the Park Act for:
- The protection and maintenance of their biological diversity and natural environments
- The preservation and maintenance of social, ceremonial and cultural uses of First Nations
- The protection and maintenance of their recreational values
- Development or use of natural resources in a manner consistent with the purposes of the above
The Klappan Sacred Headwaters – the origin of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine rivers – is a region of great ecological, cultural and spiritual significance.
It is central to the identity of the Tahltan people. It supports plants and animals and contains clean and reliable water sources. The area is important for Tahltan Way of Life and spiritual and cultural practices, as well as tourism, recreation, hunting and fishing opportunities for all British Columbians in accordance with regulations.
The Klappan Plan was signed by B.C. and Tahltan Nation in 2019. It sets goals to protect the Sacred Headwaters and includes a 20-year pause on industrial activity in that area to allow B.C. and the Tahltan Nation to agree on an approach to land use for the long term. The plan also directs the Province and Tahltan Nation to recommend goals and steps needed for the long-term use of the Coal Licence Purchase Agreement (CLPA) area.
This engagement process is a chance for people to share their thoughts on the implementation of the Klappan Plan in the Sacred Headwaters and CLPA areas.
Learn more about the Klappan Plan.
How your contribution makes a difference
We will review what people share to inform the final recommendation to Tahltan and B.C. decision makers. Your feedback will help guide future decisions about how to protect and manage the Klappan Sacred Headwaters.
2018 engagement: Plan implementation
June 1 to August 9, 2018
The B.C. government and Tahltan Nation spent many years developing the Klappan Technical report and the resulting Klappan Plan. The plan addresses land use and resource management conflicts in the Sacred Headwaters area in northwestern B.C.
After public engagement, the B.C. government approved the plan in principle in March 2017. Part of the approval-in-principle was the establishment of the Klappan Decision-Making and Management Board (KMB), a joint body of B.C. and Tahltan representatives.
We asked that written submissions include input on the following questions:
- What, in your view, are the most important issues the board should work on in the first year of implementation?
- What types of issues are important to be discussed?
- What is the most effective way to continue to involve the public in management of the Klappan?
Seven written submissions were received.
Related engagements
