Eighteen forestry-related projects in the Cariboo region will receive $5.1 million from Forest Enhancement Society of BC.
In total, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, announced 64 supported projects that will reduce wildfire risk, enhance forest health and get more fibre into the hands of mills and energy producers.
"The projects I am announcing today will remove almost 11,000 truckloads of flammable waste fibre from our forests," said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. "We all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk in B.C. This fibre that once would have been burned in slash piles will instead support workers and help keep communities safe."
The projects for the Cariboo Chilcotin include:
Wood-waste utilization
Celtic and El Dorado
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.
Williams Lake First Nation
Yun Ka Whut'en Forestry Ltd.
Wildfire-risk reduction
Clinton and Area Community Forest
Williams Lake First Nation
Eniyud Community Forest
Williams Lake Community Forest
The District of 100 Mile
Consus Management Ltd.
Wells-Barkerville Community Forest
Nazko First Nation
Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.
Tl'esqox
Consus Management Ltd.
The City of Williams Lake
Williams Lake First Nation
The City of Quesnel
“We received so many excellent applications from interested parties across the province looking to invest in the future of B.C.’s forests,” shared Jason Fisher, Executive Director of FESBC in a news release about the funding annoucement. “After careful review, we are pleased to be able to support a portfolio of projects that will make forests more resilient and communities safer, while unlocking the value of wood waste generated through forest management activities.”
Gord Chipman, Executive Director, Woodlots BC said every year, between 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of woodlots are impacted by wildfire.
“Twenty per cent of woodlots are located in a Wildland Urban Interface and have a high or extreme wildfire risk. With FESBC’s investments for new wildfire risk reduction projects, woodlots will have the opportunity to be proactive and take greater strategic action to better protect communities and people. These projects will be innovative and evolve with the involvement of BC Wildfire Service and local Forest Districts."
