Protecting the Environment

Our Priorities are the five key areas around which we focus our efforts to achieve the Vision.

In 2020, Whistler residents continue to understand the importance of the natural environment to the success of the resort and to the health of current and future generations. Visitors adopt the stewardship ethic held by residents as they see it integrated into everything around them.

A sustainable ecosystem management approach and the Precautionary Principle were adopted to ultimately minimize Whistler’s physical degradation of natural areas, and where possible, to restore and ultimately maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity. An ecologically viable network of critical areas and wildlife habitat with connecting corridors is protected and remains healthy, along with exceptional scenic and recreation areas. Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping in Whistler has identified critical areas for protection and further study, and the Protected Areas Network protects these areas as part of a comprehensive regulatory framework.

The municipal boundaries were expanded to include the Whistler Interpretive Forest and other areas, enabling protection of the surrounding environment to the north and south. Resource, recreation and scenic interests in backcountry are effectively coordinated through planning processes such as land and resource management plans. Environmentally sustainable resource use and an integrated resource management approach in Whistler’s Community Forest are protecting ecological viability, viewsheds, watersheds, and contributing to the local community through sustainable economic activity. Ongoing studies and monitoring of biodiversity, habitat suitability, ecological health and user impacts have provided the necessary information and framework for effective environmental stewardship. download the entire Vision Document