BC Provides New Funding to Support First Nations Build Forest Resilience

The BC provincial government announced on Thursday (1-11-24) two new grants for the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) to help support emergency management and land stewardship, as well as disaster- and climate-risk resilience in communities throughout BC.

According to the announcement, a $5-million grant from the Ministry of Forests will go toward a broad range of fire-stewardship programs at the local level and will be distributed by FNESS based on input from First Nations. Funds will support revitalization of Indigenous cultural practices for fire stewardship and land resilience and facilitate new equipment and wildfire training to improve emergency response and help organize First Nations community-led forums and outreach.

In addition, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness has provided $960,000 to FNESS to help advance the Province’s collective understanding of disaster and climate risk throughout BC to support community resilience, planning, and decision-making. The funding will support FNESS to undertake work that will help inform the Province’s Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessments (DCRRA). The first phase of this will evaluate the risks posed on a provincial scale by floods, wildfires, extreme heat, drought, and earthquakes. Further in-depth regional assessments will begin this year.

Commenting on the new grants, BC Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston said:

“We are committed to working with First Nations partners to create stronger and more resilient forests and communities. These grants build on the incredible work already being done by First Nations communities and will help grow capacity for Nation-led wildfire and emergency management in the future.”