Shared decision-making in public land planning: an evaluation of the Cariboo-Chilcotin CORE process

In 1992, British Columbia (BC) established the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) to develop a provincial land use strategy and facilitate implementation of land use planning processes. This research evaluates the strengths and weakness of a shared decision-making (SDM) experience in the Cariboo-Chilcotin CORE regional land use planning process. Ten process design and evaluation criteria are used to evaluate the outcomes of negotiations among 24 interest sectors which were unable to achieve consensus. Problems arose due to ineffective process implementation and a lack of commitment by government and some participants. Although consensus was not achieved, the process illustrates advantages of SDM over conventional decision-making processes. The paper suggests that SDM has a key role to play in sustainable land use planning and management. Recommendations to improve future share decision-making processes are directed to government and process managers. These include the need to provide timely funding, staffing, information, policy direction, and clear terms of reference. Process managers need better prenegotiation preparation, a comprehensive communication strategy, ongoing training and education, and a clear procedural framework to guide their activities.