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 Welcome to the July edition of my e-Newsletter.
It’s no secret B.C. has been dealing with a very busy and very costly fire season so far this year.
Like many British Columbians this summer, I will be enjoying some of the exceptional outdoor recreation activities our province has to offer. B.C.'s natural beauty makes it one of the best places on earth.
With this comes responsibility – something I feel not enough British Columbians are taking seriously. Since April we’ve had over 1,000 forest fires across the province, about 54 per cent of which have been human-caused, mostly due to carelessness. People need to be aware that they can be held financially liable for the cost of fighting these fires.
The ministry continues to address the issue of fire prevention by funding fuel management projects,
conducting prescribed burns and administering fire bans.
In addition, the Province recently announced it will pay up to 750 unemployed forest workers to take wildfire suppression training to enhance B.C.'s capacity to fight and contain forest fires.
It is up to all of us to ensure our trips to the outdoors do not result in devastating, costly and possibly deadly consequences.
Until next month,
Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
and Minister Responsible for the
Integrated Land Management Bureau
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INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT BUREAU
The ILMB is a stand-alone agency that
provides service to the public and other
government organizations by coordinating
access to Crown land and natural resources.
UPDATE:
Following the recent election, there were adjustments to ministerial portfolios. Of note, responsibility for ILMB moved from the Minister of Agriculture and Lands to the Minister of Forests and Range.
In providing its services, ILMB plays a key role in improving coordinated access to Crown natural resources, furthering government's commitment to a strong economy, vibrant communities, environmental stewardship and the development of strong, mutually supportive relationships with First Nations.
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BUILDING WITH WOOD
Given its strength, versatility, and climate-
friendly attributes, British Columbia
is promoting greater use of wood in
commercial and institutional construction.
AMPHITHEATRE DESIGN WINS GREEN BUILDING AWARD - Renaissance Architecture, designers of the open-air amphitheatre at Bertram Creek Park, a memorial of the Okanagan Mountain Wildfire, won the Canadian Wood Council award for their use of wood. The logs used in the structure were reclaimed from the fire. Photos
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GROWING TREES
By becoming a world leader
in growing trees, British
Columbia aims to maximize
the growth potential of its
forest resource.
RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR THREATENS KAMLOOPS GRASSLANDS - The ministries of Forests and Range and Environment are increasing efforts to protect an area of important grasslands near Lac du Bois Provincial Park being harmed by illegal off-road vehicle use, the dumping of garbage and the introduction of invasive plants.
NEW WOODLOTS AVAILABLE NEAR SALMON ARM AND CHERRYVILLE - Three new woodlot licences are available in the Okanagan-Shuswap area as the Province continues to create opportunities for individuals, groups or First Nations to generate income while being the stewards of local forests.
NEW WOODLOTS BRING FORESTRY OPPORTUNITIES TO NORTH ISLAND - Huock Forests Limited and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation are creating forestry employment on the north island by being the successful bidders on two new woodlot licences near Gold River.
NEW WOODLOT LICENCE AVAILABLE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND - A new 492-hectare woodlot licence with a proposed allowable annual cut of 1,881 cubic metres is available east of Gold River, increasing the number of small tenure opportunities on northern Vancouver Island.
LOWER SIMILKAMEEN COMMUNITY FOREST BEGINS OPERATIONS - Members of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band took their first look at the soon-to-be harvested cut blocks awarded to the new community forest. This agreement enables the community to more fully participate in the stewardship of local Crown forest resources.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $1 BILLION TO SUPPORT PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY Canadian pulp and paper producers who invest in improved energy efficiency and environmental performance may qualify for funding for a new $1-billion Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.
COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT FUND MONEY AVAILABLE B.C. will receive $125.2 million over the next two years from the federal government through its Community Adjustment Fund, meant to help communities hit hard by the global recession, particularly single-industry towns.
INTERFOR'S NEW MILLS IN ADAMS LAKE UP AND RUNNING - Both the new $100 million state-of-the-art sawmill and the planer mill are up and running and have increased their hours of operation by 65 per cent, continuing to evaluate business indicators on a weekly basis.
TIMBERWEST HELPS VANCOUVER ISLAND ENVIRONMENT - This year, TimberWest's annual funding of $70,000 to volunteer-driven community groups will assist 12 salmon enhancement projects improve salmon habitat in streams located on or near TimberWest's private lands.
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OTHER MINISTRY NEWS
MINISTER ADDRESSES TRUCK LOGGERS ASSOCIATION - Minister Bell addressed members of the Truck Loggers Association at their Annual Membership Meeting, providing updates on forestry issues and future government direction for the sector.
OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS FOR ALL BC TIMBER SALES CLIENTS - The ministry's Babine Business Area will be holding a series of ‘open house’ information sessions in Houston, Smithers and Burns Lake between July 7-9 for all BC Timber Sales clients and interested members of the public.
$241,000 FROM COMMUNITY TRUST TO UPGRADE HIGH RIM TRAIL - This funding will employ 11 forest workers to improve the High Rim Trail from Joe Rich to Vernon. Workers will clear brush and windfall, erect trailhead signs and repair or upgrade kiosks.
$1.2 MILLION FROM COMMUNITY TRUST TO IMPROVE TRAILS IN THREE REGIONAL DISTRICTS - This funding will benefit the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Kootenay-Boundary and Okanagan Similkameen by improving four trails over 600 km, including new washrooms and picnic tables, and the addition of directional signage.
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For information on ministry announcements and events, visit the Ministry of Forests and Range Media Room.
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FOREST SAFETY
The ministry is committed to
maintaining high safety
standards to protect
both forest workers
and the public.
EMERGENCY WILDFIRE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES The Province recently announced it will pay up to 750 unemployed forest workers to take wildfire suppression training to enhance
B.C.'s capacity to fight and contain forest fires.
MINISTER VISITS QUINSAM FIRE BASE - Minister Bell and the media observed the Rapid Attack crew perform a hover exit demonstration at the Quinsam Fire Base in Campbell River, one of many training exercises crews undergo to protect our communities and forests from devastating fires.
HELP NEEDED TO APPREHEND ARSONIST - Deliberately set wildfires on private and public lands in the Mount Benson area near Nanaimo continue to pose a risk to residents, property, public infrastructure, and local water quality.
ONTARIO, ALBERTA FIRE CREWS HEAD TO B.C. - Due to increased fire activity, B.C. welcomed crews from Ontario and Alberta who assisted in fighting two large fires currently burning in the north and south of the province.
$173,000 FROM COMMUNITY TRUST TO UPGRADE CROSS COUNTRY TRAILS - This funding will benefit the Dawson Creek area by improving safety at the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Association ski area, including the removal of danger trees and widening the trails.
“SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER” LAW NOW IN EFFECT - A new Motor Vehicle Act regulation requires drivers to decrease their speed and move over whenever possible around parked emergency vehicles with their lights flashing, including special provincial constable vehicles with the Ministry of Forests and Range.
B.C. DEPLOYS SEVEN FIRE CREWS TO THE YUKON Seven initial attack crews consisting of 21 fire fighters and one agency representative were deployed to the Yukon Territory to help manage anticipated fire starts.
B.C. CREWS HELPING FIGHT FIRES IN ALASKA – Two firefighting crews consisting of six firefighters and a helicopter technician from B.C.’s Rappattack program were deployed to central Alaska to help manage increasing wildfire activity.
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IMPROVING UTILIZATION
British Columbia is working
to maximize the economic
opportunities from wood
fibre previously considered
waste or debris.
KAMLOOPS OPERATION NEEDS WORKERS FOR PELLET PLANT – SBC Firemaster has completed a modular plant that will convert logging slash and pine beetle wood into material that can be burned to create energy. The operation is designed to produce 30,000 tonnes of pellets a year, and is expected to employ an additional 20 to 25 staff when operations begin, which is scheduled for November 2009.
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INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
British Columbia is working to expand its overseas exports, particularly into the rapidly growing China market.
CHALWOOD SUPPLIES WOOD FOR JAPANESE TEMPLES - Chalwood Forest Products of Port Alberni has tapped into the Japanese wood market. Chalwood produces two-by-fours and two-by-sixes and ships them overseas for the fine detail work to be done in Japan.
WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE Construction of all wood frame building structures at the Xiang'E primary school project in Dujiangyan are closer to completion with the installation of drywall and electrical wiring. Photos
QUESNEL STUDENTS VISIT DREAM HOME CHINA - In March, students and teachers from the Quesnel School District travelled to Shanghai as part of a two-week long cultural exchange which included a visit to the Dream Home China project. Students left the site with a feeling of pride regarding the versatility of B.C. forest products.
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FORESTRY FACTS
- B.C. has dealt with over 1,000 forest fires to date since the start of 2009.
- In one year, one acre of trees can absorb as much carbon dioxide as one car produces in 20,000 km.
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WEB RESOURCES
The ministry's website provides a wide range of services and a wealth of information regarding B.C.'s forest sector.
The Wildfire Management Branch is tasked with managing wildfires on both Crown and private lands outside of organized areas, and provides wildfire management and emergency response support to protect life and assets.
The branch's website contains information on fire bans, current and historic fires, fire prevention, legislation, and employment. News releases, as well as photos and videos are also available online.
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