Alberta. Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife
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<em>Dates of Founding and/or Dissolution:</em>The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife was established through the <em>Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Act</em> (S.A. 1986, chapter D-20.5), which received assent September 12, 1986. The Act was repealed and superseded by Government Organization Act (1994). The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, however, became part of the Department of Environmental Protection in January 1993 (A.R. 12/93). <em>Functional Responsibility:</em>The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife ensured the wise use of the province's natural resources, for the benefit of all Albertans; it was responsible for the management of Alberta's fish, wildlife, forests and public lands. The Department was created from the functions of the Associate Minister of Public Lands and Wildlife and the Renewable Resource sector of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. This sector had been responsible for the administration of Alberta's forest resources, public lands and fish and wildlife resources. As well, land use planning, mapping, surveying and aerial photography were part of the sector's responsibility. These were all functions assumed by the Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife. The initial department organization directly reflected that of the Renewable Resource sector of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The department continued with the following divisions: the Alberta Forest Service, Public Lands, Fish and Wildlife, Resource Evaluation and Planning, Alberta Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and Foreign Ownership of Land Administration. The Alberta Forest Service managed Alberta's forest lands to ensure a perpetual supply of benefits and products all the while maintaining a high quality forest environment. The Public Lands Division was responsible for the administration of public lands. The Fish and Wildlife Division managed fish and wildlife resources to provide the maximum benefit while ensuring viable populations were maintained. The Resource Evaluation and Planning Division provided integrated resource policy and planning services. The Alberta Bureau of Surveying and Mapping coordinated all provincial surveying and mapping. The Foreign Ownership of Land Administration Division enforced the Foreign Ownership of Land Regulations. Later in 1986, the Forest Industry Development Division was established, to promote the development of Alberta's forest resources. The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife underwent reorganization in December 1987 which resulted in changes aimed at reducing administrative costs. Alberta Forest Service Division, Public Lands Division, Fish and Wildlife Division, Forest Industry Development Division remained for the most part unchanged, but a new Land Information Services Division was added, as was the Policy Secretariat. The Land Services Division was created from a merger of the Land Information Branch and the Bureau of Surveying and Mapping. Foreign Ownership of Land Administration became part of Public Lands. The Policy Secretariat was established to review and analyze existing policies and regulation, and to assist in the development of renewable resource policies consistent with department's mission. The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife shared a Finance and Administration sector with the Department of Energy; the division reported to the Department of Energy. <em>Predecessor and Successor Bodies:</em>The Government of Alberta has been responsible for its own natural resources since 1930, when responsibility and ownership of these resources was transferred to the Crown in right of Alberta. Prior to the Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, numerous departments had administered acts relevant to fish, wildlife, forests and public lands; the main departments included the Department of Lands and Mines (1931-1949), the Department of Lands and Forests (1949-1975), and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (1975-1986), and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Wildlife (1975-1979). Following the Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Protection assumed administration of most of the relevant acts, as well as the <em>Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife Act</em> itself, in early January 1993 (A.R. 12/93). Administration of Public Lands and related acts was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Many of the same functions were transferred again in 2001 to the newly established Department of Sustainable Resource Development. <em>Administrative Relationships:</em>The Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife reported to the Minister of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife. The Minister of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife was a member of the Executive Council of the Alberta Government. <em>Administrative Structure:</em>The structure of the Department of the Forestry, Lands and Wildlife was hierarchical. The Department was divided into divisions; these divisions were then divided into various branches. The divisions remained relatively stable after an initial reorganization in 1987 following its split from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in 1986. <em>Names of the Corporate bodies:</em>The new department, created from the Renewable Resources sector of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the Associate Deputy Minister of Public Lands and Wildlife, was first established as the Department of Forestry in early 1986. By the time the Minister was appointed in May and the departmental act received assent in September, the name had become Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, to better reflect all the resources it was to manage. The Department is referred to as Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife in the Annual Reports. <em>Names of Chief Officers:</em>;Ministers of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife:;Don Sparrow, 1986-1987;LeRoy Fjordbotten, 1987-1992