BC Announces New Funding for Wildfire Prevention Projects

On Monday, British Columbia announced a new annual investment to fund forest enhancement projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, supporting forestry jobs, and improving forest resilience.

Through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), the province is committing CA$20 million (US$14.3 million) per year over the next three years to support First Nations, local governments, community forests, local forestry companies, and community organizations.

This year, 60 forest enhancement projects will receive funding. The projects include creating landscape-level fuel breaks, removing residual fuels, carrying out prescribed burns, and improving egress routes used during emergencies or evacuations.

The province said the work will also help restore wildlife habitat, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve ecosystem health, and recover fiber that could otherwise go to waste and help keep BC mills running. Many of the funded projects are led by Indigenous organizations, First Nations partnerships, and community forests.

In remarks accompanying the announcement, BC Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said:

“The best wildfire is the one that never starts. The best way to protect communities is to work together to prevent them. Through this investment into FESBC, we’re investing in wildfire resilience and this means local logs for local mills to create local jobs.”