Discretionary tools and bioregional planning implementation: an actor network analysis in southern Vancouver Island

Discretionary planning tools are increasingly used to protect ecological systems on private land, yet their implementation varies across jurisdictions. Previous research has identified institutional and governance barriers to implementation. Less research has addressed how discretionary planning tools can advance bioregional planning principles. Therefore, this study asks: (1) How can the implementation of discretionary guideline-based tools at local levels contribute to advancing bioregional planning principles? (2) How can human actors influence the effectiveness of discretionary guideline implementation for bioregional management? and (3) What constraints and opportunities might practitioners face when implementing discretionary guidelines? Using Environmental Development Permit Areas (EDPAs) on Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, as a case study, this research combines a literature review, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews interpreted through Actor Network Theory (ANT). Findings suggest the effectiveness of discretionary planning tools depends less on statutory authority than on the actor networks shaping their interpretation, negotiation, and implementation.