NAKUSP– BC New Democrat MLAs Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette say that funding for forestry projects in the Kootenays will benefit the community by reducing wildfire risk and increasing fibre supply, helping our forestry industry, and supporting good-paying forestry jobs in the face of U.S. tariffs and unjustified softwood lumber duties.

“Last summer, here in the Kootenays the wildfires that threatened our communities were incredibly frightening. I am so grateful for the work of local organizations that are developing and implementing plans to protect more of our forests and homes and working to keep our communities safer in the face of wildfires,” said Brittny Anderson, MLA for Kootenay Central. “Funding projects like these are just one of the ways our government is dedicated to reducing wildfire risk across B.C.”

Multiple projects are being supported in the Kootenays with nearly $3 million in funding, including:

• The Osoyoos Indian Band along with Mercer Celgar Fibre Recovery Partnership near Castlegar is receiving $1.6 million to utilize fibre, with whole logs being delivered to Celgar that may have otherwise been placed in logging debris slash piles and burned.
• The Slocan Integral Forest Cooperative is receiving $593,000 as a continuation of previous investments in wildfire preparedness and fuel mitigation. The treatment area has been identified as a high priority fuel management location in the Community Forest’s Wildfire Preparedness Plan and builds on existing landscape level fuel breaks.
• The West Kootenay Woodlot Association is receiving $96,520 to develop fuel management prescriptions for seven different woodlots near Nelson, Kaslo, Nakusp, Burton and Castlegar.
• The Nakusp and Area Community Forest (NACFOR) is receiving $396,207 to develop wildfire risk reduction prescriptions for areas east of Nakusp that have been prioritized for treatment through the local Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Additionally, 40 ha of forest will be treated to create defensible space for fire crews in the event of a future wildfire.

“We’re lucky to have so many forestry experts in the Kootenays,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee. “Projects that help create jobs for local people and help us reduce wildfire risk are a win-win!”

The Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. is supporting 74 new and expanded projects around the province with a $28 million investment from the provincial government. This includes 43 new and expanded fibre-recovery projects and 31 new and expanded wildfire-mitigation projects that are helping create jobs, reduce wildfire risk and support B.C.’s pulp and biomass sector. They will be complete by the end of March 2025, in advance of wildfire season.

Since 2016, $79.6 million has been invested in 201 community wildfire risk-reduction projects through FESBC.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/32039

BACKGROUNDER

Fibre supply and wildfire mitigation projects

Projects in the Kootenay region

$2,854,481 has been invested in seven projects in the Kootenay region. Listed by community, this includes:

Castlegar: $1,600,000

Project: OIB/Celgar Fibre Utilization Project 2024-25
Applicant: Nk’Mip Forestry
Purpose: Fibre supply

Creston: $21,284

Project: CP35 Blocks Pre-Treatment Work 2024
Applicant: Creston Valley Forest Corporation
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation

Harrop-Procter: $101,000

Project: Harrop-Procter WRR projects 24/25
Applicant: Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation

Nakusp: $396,207

Project: Wensley Phase 1
Applicant: Nakusp and Area Community Forest
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation

Nelson: $96,520

Project: WKWA Wildfire Risk Reduction
Applicant: West Kootenay Woodlot Association
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation

New Denver: $46,470

Project: New Denver WRR Phase 1 Prescription
Applicant: Nakusp and Area Community Forest (NACFOR)
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation

Slocan: $593,000

Project: Slocan Wildfire Resiliency Program
Applicant: Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative (SIFCO)
Purpose: Wildfire mitigation