Thompson-Okanagan Region, B.C. – On April 24, 2025, Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, shared details on newly funded forest enhancement projects throughout the province at the BC First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC) Conference in Penticton. The announcement highlighted 64 projects receiving investments from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) for wood waste utilization and wildfire risk reduction, 18 of which will occur in the Thompson-Okanagan Region.
These newly funded projects represent nearly $20 million in investments, with over $5 million allocated to projects in the Thompson-Okanagan Region that will either boost fibre supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing uneconomic wood waste or reduce wildfire risk to better protect communities and important infrastructure. Many projects have additional benefits, such as taking action on climate change and enhancing wildlife habitat, and will help create or sustain good, family-supporting jobs.
“We received so many excellent applications from interested parties across the province looking to invest in the future of B.C.’s forests,” shared Jason Fisher, Executive Director of FESBC. “After careful review, we are pleased to be able to support a portfolio of projects that will make forests more resilient and communities safer, while unlocking the value of wood waste generated through forest management activities.”
In total, wood waste utilization projects in the Thompson-Okanagan Region are anticipated to utilize over 181,000 cubic metres of fibre, equivalent to 4,100+ truckloads, which will enable more than 24,000 tonnes of avoided emissions (tonnes of CO2e) from utilizing wood waste instead of burning it. Wildfire risk reduction projects in the Thompson-Okanagan will allow for the treatment of 331 hectares of forest and prescriptions, or planning, for future wildfire risk reduction work in 508 hectares.
Wood Waste Utilization Projects
- Wood Fibre Transport: River City Fibre LP will receive funding to support the transportation of low-grade fibre from the tenures of the Simpcw First Nation near Barriere to the River City Fibre chipping facility in Kamloops to be later consumed at the Kruger pulp mill.
- Wood Fibre Transport: Skul’qalt Forestry LP, a company held by the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, will receive funding to deliver low-value logs that would normally be left behind after harvest in the Keremeos area. This will help promote utilization of the resource to reduce the need to burn wood waste in slash piles, thereby helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Wood Fibre Utilization: Arrow Transportation Systems Inc. will receive funding to grind low-value wood waste from harvesting operations in the Kamloops and Fort St James areas and deliver it for use at local energy facilities.
- Wood Fibre Utilization: Stuwix Resources Joint Venture, a collaboration of nine First Nations, will receive funding to enable the delivery of lower-value wood waste from harvesting operations near Merritt to local facilities in the Cascades Resource District.
- Wood Fibre Transport: Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) 2007 LLP will receive funding to enable the delivery lower-value wood waste from harvesting operations near Enderby to local facilities in the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District.
- Wood Fibre Transport: River City Fibre will receive funding to support the transportation of fire damaged pulp logs (a log not suitable for sawlog quality) north of Kamloops Lake to the River City Fibre chipping facility in Kamloops for use by the Kruger pulp mill to create pulp and paper products.
- Wood Fibre Utilization: Sta’tim’ic Tribal Holdings, a collaboration of four First Nations, will receive funding to help with the costs associated with the harvest and rehabilitation of a 2023 wildfire damaged stand in the Cascades Resource District near Gold Bridge. Fibre from the harvest will be sold to local facilities to maximize value and provide employment, and the harvested area will be reforested in a timely fashion to re-establish a healthy forest.
Wildfire Risk Reduction Projects
- Fuel Break Treatment: Logan Lake Community Forest will receive funding to continue the work to establish a landscape level fuel break along the Coquihalla highway corridor and additional fuel treatments around the community of Logan Lake.
- Fuel Break Treatment: Shulus Forest Enterprises LP. will receive funding to continue work to create a large-scale fuel break around Steffens Estates area, northwest of Merritt.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Treatment: The City of Vernon will receive funding to allow Rider Ventures to continue work on a landscape level fuel break on the west flank of Predator Ridge and above Okanagan Lake. FESBC previously funded the development of the prescription and phase 1 of the treatment in this area, which is identified as high-risk and high-priority for wildfire risk reduction treatment.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Prescription: Vermillion Forks Community Forest will receive funding to complete a prescription for a Wildfire Risk Reduction treatment within the Wildland Urban Interface west of the community of Princeton
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Prescription: Shulus Forest Enterprises LP will receive funding to complete the prescription and planning specific to wildfire risk reduction work around critical communications infrastructure on Iron Mountain, south of Merritt.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Prescription and Treatment: Ntityix Resources LP will receive funding to contribute to the development of a wildfire risk reduction prescription and treatment of approximately 253 hectares in the Westbank First Nation Community Forest, adjacent to the neighbourhood of Glenrosa in West Kelowna. Ntityix Resources LP will promote the utilization of wood waste from operations where possible and employ their own local First Nations crews throughout the treatment area.
- Fuel Break Treatment: The District of Summerland will receive funding to conduct a wildfire risk reduction treatment on the western extent of Summerland and will add to the previously completed landscape-level fuel break. FESBC previously funded the prescription development in this high-threat area for wildfires and this funding will complete the treatment.
- Fuel Break Treatment: Lower North Thompson Community Forest will receive funding to support three fuel treatment areas along the western end of East Barriere Lake that will combine to form a landscape-level fuel break.
- Fuel Break Treatment: Vermillion Forks Community Forest will receive funding to help complete the final phase of work on a wildfire risk reduction treatment above the community of Coalmont.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Prescription and Treatment: Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) 2007 LLP will receive funding to help develop a prescription for a wildfire risk reduction treatment adjacent to the city of Salmon Arm. Year two of funding for the project will contribute to the treatment of the project which will include fibre utilization and ultimately result in the development of a landscape level fuel break.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction Prescription and Treatment: Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) 2007 LLP will receive funding to help develop a prescription for a wildfire risk reduction treatment in the Monashee Community Forest adjacent the village of Lumby. Year two of funding for the project will contribute to the treatment of the project, which will ultimately result in converting the forested landscape into a more fire-resilient silvopasture that integrates trees, forage, and livestock grazing on the same land.
Of the 64 total new projects to receive investments from FESBC throughout the province, 31 projects are led by Indigenous organizations and an additional 14 projects have significant Indigenous participation.
“The BC First Nations Forestry Council would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Province of BC and FESBC for providing the funding needed to get boots on the ground and support critical work. Mitigating wildfire risk and creating a more fire-ready landscape is essential,” said Lennard Joe, CEO, BC First Nations Forestry Council. “I am grateful for our First Nations contractors, whose capacity and readiness, position them to lead this important work and help move the province forward in a good way.”
To learn more about some of the innovative and collaborative projects invested in by FESBC that have been led by local project proponents throughout the province, you are invited to take a look at the Spring 2025 Accomplishments Update.
For an interview with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, communications@fesbc.ca | 250.574.0221
ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director, BC Community Forest Association: “FESBC has played a vital role in supporting community forests across the province to complete work that prioritizes local values, including wildfire risk reduction, utilizing wood waste, and enhancing forest resiliency in rural areas. By partnering with local stakeholders such as community forest managers, they help ensure that their initiatives align with the unique needs and priorities of each community. This collaborative approach not only promotes sustainable forest management but also creates important economic and social opportunities.”
Gord Chipman, Executive Director, Woodlots BC: “Every year, between 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of woodlots are impacted by wildfire. 20% of woodlots are located in a Wildland Urban Interface and have a high or extreme wildfire risk. With FESBC’s investments for new wildfire risk reduction projects, woodlots will have the opportunity to be proactive and take greater strategic action to better protect communities and people. These projects will be innovative and evolve with the involvement of BC Wildfire Service and local Forest Districts.”
FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.