Nazko, BC – As the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) marks its 10th anniversary, the Society is reflecting on the investments it has made to support climate change mitigation across the province. Notably, with support from FESBC, communities like Nazko continue to enhance the resilience of their forests in the face of a changing climate. This work often includes supporting transportation costs so that uneconomic, low-value fibre is transported to local secondary manufacturing facilities rather than burned on site in slash piles following harvesting operations or post-wildfire salvage.
“There is much more work to be done, as there is a growing recognition that fire seasons are likely to become longer and more intense. Addressing or preparing for this reality requires a comprehensive and holistic landscape-level approach to forest management, one that balances multiple values while proactively managing forest fuel accumulation,” said Brian Watson, Registered Professional Forester (RPF), Operations Manager with FESBC. “Given the scale of the challenge and available resources, managing for forest values that prioritize climate resilience can help maximize the effectiveness of these efforts.”
The establishment of landscape-level fuel breaks is another way to prepare to combat the increases in fire severity attributed to climate change. Fuel breaks are long, wide and continuous treatments in the forest or alongside existing linear features like roads, or power transmission lines. They can be open or treed and are designed to modify fire behaviour and improve suppression opportunities by reducing the likelihood of high-intensity crown fires, or fires that spread from treetop to treetop and create conditions that promote lower intensity groundfires. These features provide suppression options by improving the efficacy of water and retardant drops, provide anchor points for fires suppression activities and creating lower intensity conditions that wildfire crews can more safely work in.
In other cases, FESBC supports the implementation of fuel modification treatments near infrastructure and homes, where forests are thinned and branches and woody debris are removed to reduce the intensity of wildfires and make it easier to extinguish fires that do start.
“In all wildfire risk reduction treatments, thinning out the understory, or the layer closer to the ground, makes the application of fire and retardant on these stands more effective in limiting fire spread and intensity,” noted Watson.
Investing in forest management can do more than mitigate the impact of fires. Healthy forests play an important role in carbon storage, supporting wildlife habitat, in water filtration, and contributing to overall climate resilience.
Additionally, the management of post-harvest debris is another opportunity to mitigate climate change. This debris needs to be eliminated to reduce wildfire risk. Burning these residuals is the most common method employed to reduce the risk of fire. In recent years, FESBC and their proponents have challenged conventional thinking about how fibre from these treatments can be utilized. When materials are located far from processing facilities, FESBC has played a key role in supporting the transport of this low-value fibre to secondary facilities, reducing the carbon footprint of these projects. Equally important, finding alternatives to burning debris piles improves air quality for workers and communities across B.C.
One of the FESBC-funded projects that is helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change includes the work near the community of Nazko, which supported the rehabilitation of a pine forest heavily impacted by the mountain pine beetle. The project, led by the Nazko First Nation, focused on removing dead and fallen trees from the forest floor and moving it roadside, where it was then transported to local manufacturing facilities. Small amounts of unmerchantable fibre were piled within the treatment area for subsequent burning to help reduce the wildfire risk. Overall, these utilization efforts drastically minimized the amount of burning needed to decrease the fire hazard.
Logging contractor implements the initial phase of the treatment. Photo Credits: Brian Watson.
This work is particularly important to the residents of Nazko, who have been evacuated numerous times over the last 15 years due the danger of large, catastrophic wildfires. Reducing the hazard and improving suppression options in the area close to the community will help increase the level of safety in the area.
“Projects like this one have a real and lasting impact in our community, helping us take meaningful steps toward reducing wildfire risk and better protecting our forests. This investment is an important part of building a safer, more resilient future for our community while also paving the way for more Indigenous-led forestry in B.C.,” said Florian Bergoin, Natural Resources Manager with the Nazko First Nation. “FESBC has been a very strong supporter of our wildfire prevention efforts, and we’re grateful for their funding and professional support.”
In addition to creating a safer landscape and reducing wildfire risk, this treatment will address food security strategies for the community by improving habitat for species like moose, grouse and deer while also improving conditions for berry production. The treated area will also offer enhanced cultural and recreational opportunities and leave behind a healthier forest that can support long-term economic opportunities for the Nazko community.
Under FESBC’s fibre utilization program, FESBC’s proponents shipped approximately 560,000 cubic metres of low-value fibre rather than open-burning it in 2025/2026. This translates into approximately 11,200 truckloads of wood fibre to support secondary manufacturing facilities and approximately 180,000 tonnes of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.
“While fossil fuels are consumed during transportation and carbon is released from the manufacturing process at these secondary facilities, the overall net reduction in carbon released can be significant,” explained Watson. “Often, these investments are significantly lower than the social cost of carbon, a metric used by scientists and economists to measure the effectiveness of climate change policies.”
While there is broad agreement on the importance of this work, implementation can be complex due to a range of existing policies and operational considerations.
“As we mark ten years of FESBC, what stands out the most is the tangible impact these projects are having on the ground, the people behind the work, and the role they play in addressing climate change,” said Jason Fisher, RPF, Executive Director, FESBC. “Climate change is one of the defining challenges the forestry industry is facing and the projects highlighted here demonstrate that practical, scalable solutions exist. Whether it’s reducing emissions through fibre utilization or strengthening forests to better withstand wildfires, this work is delivering real results across the province. It shows that with the right partnerships and targeted support, we can take meaningful action that will benefit future generations.”
For an interview with FESBC, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison | communications@fesbc.ca | 250.574.0221
FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.