This part of the Guide is about the wide range of laws that have the potential to be used to protect wetlands. Our current laws do not adequately protect wetlands, and a concerned citizen must delve into a thicket of laws to unearth a provision that will help protect a wetland.

British Columbia does not have one specific law or policy devoted to wetlands. Instead, there are different laws at the federal, provincial and municipal levels which may play a role in wetland protection. Each case of wetland protection may involve one or more levels of government, and one or more laws and policies. Often, the best way to protect a wetland will involve participation in local land use planning processes. In addition, there are legal tools which may be used to protect privately owned land, especially conservation covenants held by nongovernmental organizations.

This part is divided into four sections.

First, a section discusses how to gather a variety of information about a wetland.

Second, it describes the different levels of government and their different jurisdictional powers over wetlands. This section includes a summary of the major laws at all levels of government that apply to wetlands protection, and a brief description of some intergovernmental programs.

Third, legal options to protect privately owned wetlands are discussed.