The use of program theory for identifying and evaluating 'best practices' for implementing land-use policies

Over the past decade, land-use planning in British Columbia has matured into the current, integrated land and resource-planning regime. Such an integrated planning approach attempts to balance environmental, economic, and social objectives to achieve sustainable use of the existing land-base. Moreover, planning activities such as these necessarily encompass a wide range of interests and stakeholders, as well as addressing a multitude of complex issues. Since most of the provincial plans initiated are now completed, attention is turning to the implementation phase, during which these consensus-based plans are instituted on the ground.; This report identifies the best implementation practices that should be used for implementing such land-use policies. Evaluating the best practices used by selected North American agencies—Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Fraser Basin Council, Land Conservation and Development Commission, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, and United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service—identifies which implementation practices are most critical to achieving policy objectives. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...