Land-use framework regions of Alberta

Last updated
Land-use framework regions
Location Alberta
Created
  • 2007
Number7
Populations37,759 (Lower Peace) – 1,814,190 (South Saskatchewan)
Areas50,338 km2 (Red Deer) – 192,198 km2 (Lower Peace)

Land-use framework regions are a scheme of organizing local governments adopted by the Canadian province of Alberta. Numbering seven in total, each land-use region is named for, and roughly follows the boundary of, a major watershed. Managed by Alberta Environment and Parks, the stated aims of the program are to create a venue for regionwide planning and cooperation, promoting sustainable use of public and private lands. Every region is intended to develop and enact its own comprehensive regional land-use plan, guiding future development within its territory. However, as of 2019, approved plans have only been submitted from two of the seven regions. [1]

Contents

History

Land-use planning has been practiced in various forms by the Alberta government for more than a century. In 1948, the Manning government divided the province into a 'green' and 'white' area. The 'Green Area', comprising 61% of Alberta's landmass and mostly owned by the provincial government, was to be managed for forest production, wildlife management, and recreation. The 'White Area', comprising the remaining 39%, was designated for settlement and agriculture. Further plans, some regional in scope, were implemented over the next few decades. For instance, the 1977 Policy for Resource Management of the Eastern Slopes identified watershed protection and public recreation as higher priorities than non-renewable resource development in Alberta's Rocky Mountain Foothills. However, these were implemented on a case-by-case basis, and never achieved comprehensive coverage of the province's landmass.

By the late 2000s, eight disparate provincial government departments each maintained an individual interest in land use. As facilitating effective Indigenous consultation became another concern of the era, the 2007 Land-use Framework was intended to provide the first-ever formal venue for cooperation between the provincial bureaucracy, its numerous local governments, and all other interested parties. [2]

List

Land-use framework regions of Alberta
NameCensus statistics (2016) [3] Percentage
developed [4]
AreaPopulationPopulation density
Lower Peace Region 192,198 km237,7590.1968.40%
Lower Athabasca Region 93,458 km2118,7991.2718.67%
Upper Peace Region 74,270 km2138,2371.86133.77%
Upper Athabasca Region 83,004 km2122,8061.48029.11%
North Saskatchewan Region 85,781 km21,543,36017.99254.71%
Red Deer Region 50,338 km2292,0185.80161.74%
South Saskatchewan Region 83,774 km21,814,19021.65651.47%

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Peace Region</span> Land-use framework region

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Deer Region</span> Land-use framework region

The Red Deer Region is a land-use framework region in Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Peace Region</span> Land-use framework region

The Lower Peace Region is a land-use framework region in northern Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Athabasca Region</span> Land-use framework region

The Lower Athabasca Region is a land-use framework region in northern Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Athabasca Region</span> Land-use framework region

The Upper Athabasca Region is a land-use framework region in northern Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Saskatchewan Region</span> Land-use framework region

The North Saskatchewan Region is a land-use framework region in northern Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Saskatchewan Region</span> Land-use framework region

The South Saskatchewan Region is a land-use framework region in southern Alberta, Canada. One of seven in the province, each is intended to develop and implement a regional plan, complementing the planning efforts of member municipalities in order to coordinate future growth. Corresponding roughly to major watersheds while following municipal boundaries, these regions are managed by Alberta Environment and Parks.

References

  1. "Land-use Framework". Alberta Environment and Parks. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  2. "Where We Are Now". Land-use Framework. Government of Alberta. 2008. pp.  9-12. ISBN   978-0-7785-7714-0.
  3. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  4. "Land-use Planning Regions". Alberta Biosphere Monitoring Initiative. Retrieved 2019-07-07.