Province provides $5 million to reduce wildfire risks in community forests

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- funding provided within the Cariboo Fire Centre as follows:

* $486,374 to Esk’etemc Community Forest for three operational treatment projects and one prescribed fire project (covering about 293.5 hectares) 

* $589,200 to Eniyud Community Forest Ltd. for one treatment prescription development and two operational treatment projects (about 174 hectares) 

* $404,250 to Williams Lake Community Forest Limited Partnership for one operational treatment (about 70 hectares)

The B.C. government is investing over $5 million to help Community Forest Agreement holders complete wildfire risk reduction projects as part of the Province’s economic recovery plan to create jobs and help communities deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

“It’s a priority for our government to do everything we can to keep people safe from the threat of wildfires,” said the Hon. Katrine Conroy, BC's Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “This money will help recipients reduce those risks and also support local employment opportunities.”

The BC Community Forest Association will distribute more than $5 million to 15 holders of community forest agreements around B.C. to fund 44 Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (CLWRR) projects. The CLWRR funding stream is part of the Community Resiliency Investment program administered by the BC Wildfire Service. It supports wildfire risk reduction treatments on provincial Crown land near communities, around critical infrastructure and in areas facing a higher wildfire risk.

StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan provides employment and economic opportunities to support a wide range of projects throughout the province. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is responsible for economic recovery programs worth more than $100 million. This investment in wildfire risk reduction in community forests is one component of that overall recovery strategy.

“Our StrongerBC plan is designed to help people, communities and businesses in every corner of the province get back on track,” said the Hon. Ravi Kahlon, BC's Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “This community forests program has multiple benefits, such as creating jobs, protecting Crown timberland and making communities safer from the threat of wildfires.”

Community forest agreement holders are represented by the BC Community Forest Association and are important partners in managing forested land near communities. They play a key role in fuel management treatments, advocate for their communities, and provide expertise and local knowledge to successfully implement fuel management projects.