Castlegar, Creston, Harrop, Kimberley and Nelson will receive provincial funding for projects aimed at wildfire risk reduction and increasing fibre supply.
The B.C. government says the grants are meant to better protect communities from wildfires while keeping mills and energy plants running as the province faces U.S. tariff threats and softwood lumber duties.
“In tough times, I want workers in our forest sector to know I’ve got their back,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
“Whether it’s better utilizing existing sources of fibre or helping protect communities from wildfire, the projects are supporting workers and companies as they develop new and innovative forest practices.”
Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) is distributing $28 million from the provincial government to 43 new and expanded fibre-recovery projects and 32 new and expanded wildfire mitigation projects.
“Projects are taking place in all eight of the Province’s natural resource regions, helping create jobs, reducing wildfire risk and supporting B.C.’s pulp and biomass sector,” said the provincial government.
“They will be complete by the end of March 2025, in advance of wildfire season.”
B.C. officials say fibre recovery work involves taking wood that would otherwise be burned or abandoned and giving it to mills and forestry companies that can use it.
“These projects are putting local businesses and people to work reducing wildfire risk and recovering fibre for local pulp mills, and pellet and energy plants,” said Jason Fisher, FESBC executive director.
“FESBC received strong proposals from across the province and we are pleased to support this strong group of proponents in their forest-management activities.”
Over $2.4 million will go to 11 projects in the Kootenays listed below:
- Castlegar
- Fibre supply work through the OIB/Celgar Fibre Utilization Project 2024-25 undertaken by Nk’Mip Forestry.
- Creston
- Wildfire mitigation through the CP35 Blocks Pre-Treatment Work 2024 undertaken by the Creston Valley Forest Corporation.
- Golden
- Fibre recovery undertaken by Pacific Woodtech.
- Wildfire mitigation through mulching work, undertaken by the Columbia Woodlot Association.
- Harrop
- Wildfire mitigation work done by the Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative.
- Kimberley
- City of Kimberley Wildfire Hazard Mitigation.
- Nakusp
- Wildfire mitigation work done by the Nakusp and Area Community Forest.
- Nelson
- Wildfire mitigation by the West Kootenay Woodlot Association.
- New Denver
- Wildfire mitigation done by the Nakusp and Area Community Forest (NACFOR).
- Wildfire mitigation done by the Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative (SIFCO).
- Osoyoos
- Wildfire mitigation work done by the West Boundary Community Forest.
You can see a list of every other project set to receive funding here.
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