Merritt, B.C. – The Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation (LNIBDC) has completed wildfire risk reduction treatments in the Steffens Estates subdivision, north of the Lower Nicola Indian Band’s Mameet Indian Reserve #1, approximately 17 kilometres north of the city of Merritt. The project, which combined harvesting and post-harvest fuel reduction treatments, was conducted by crews from Shulus Forest Enterprises LP, the forestry division of the LNIBDC, with assistance from Forsite Consultants Ltd. (Forsite) and funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC). The work will help reduce wildfire risk to communities, enhance forest resilience, and maintain critical wildlife features while generating significant economic and employment opportunities for the LNIBDC.
“Our natural resources are a significant part of who we are as First Nations people, and our connection to the land is important,” shared kʷúkʷpiʔ Stuart Jackson of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. “When we have the opportunity to lead the way in forestry work and our members have the opportunity to do the work, we collectively experience significant and positive environmental, economic, and social outcomes as a society. We are grateful to the Forest Enhancement Society of BC for the investment and the opportunity to work in collaboration.”
The Steffens Estates area, which borders private land and residences, was identified with a high fuel hazard rating and, therefore, posed an increased wildfire risk in the area. To mitigate this potential threat to local communities, recreational areas, and important infrastructure and transportation corridors, crews took a proactive approach by reducing the forest fuel load, or flammable material like dead trees and other woody debris on the forest floor.
“This area went through a very aggressive harvesting program initially, which helped open up the forest crowns (or tree tops), and was followed up by a wildfire risk reduction project, funded by FESBC,” shared Don Gossoo, General Manager for the LNIBDC.
In August of 2022, $544,425.00 was allocated by FESBC to support the project. Beginning in September of 2022, the project has consisted of three phases to date:
- Phase one focused on developing a prescription, a detailed plan outlining specific fuel management activities, to reduce wildfire risk to 68.6 hectares associated with LNIBDC cut blocks, or areas authorized for timber harvest, immediately south of the properties.
- Phase two involved a two-pass system to implement timber harvesting to thin the forest, followed by a second pass of post-harvest fuel reduction treatments with hand crews and small equipment within the LNIBDC cut blocks.
- Phase three looked to expand the treated area beyond the original LNIBDC cut blocks, as there were still areas of hazardous fuel loading adjacent to the harvested cut blocks. This phase included field reconnaissance, a preliminary inspection of the area, and fuel management prescriptions for 196 hectares of high fuel hazard forests adjacent to private residences.
“The two-pass system of fuel reduction uses larger, conventional harvesting equipment to do the majority of the large-scale canopy, or top areas of the tree, and then utilizes hand crews and smaller equipment to carry out the more detailed wildfire risk reduction work,” explained Chris McGourlick, Registered Professional Forester and Operations Manager with FESBC. “Splitting the work like this reduces costs and improves safety, as the majority of the operational costs are covered by the removal of wood during the opening of the canopy, with dangerous trees and overhead hazards removed by equipment rather than hand crews.”
The LNIBDC contracted Forsite to assist in creating the fuel management prescription, which helped guide and monitor the crew’s activities as treatments were implemented, ensuring all required wildfire risk reduction outcomes were achieved.
“The work included thinning mature trees to open up the forest canopy or upper layer, pruning branches and hand-cutting smaller trees to remove ladder fuels or branches where a fire can go from the forest floor and climb up the tree, as well as cleaning up the debris on the ground to lower the intensity with which a fire can burn in this area,” said Adam Sullivan, Senior Planning Forester/Team Lead, Forsite. “This greatly improves the ability for BC Wildfire Service crews to defend the area from a wildfire and improves the chances of firefighters being able to protect homes.”
Photo captions (L>R): Shulus Forest Enterprises crews burning fuel debris piles in Steffens Estates area; Shulus Forest Enterprises crew members on site at Steffens Estates area. Photo Credit: Ernie McIvor.
Sullivan also shared, “The project met all legal objectives for protecting Indigenous archaeological/cultural heritage values, wildlife habitat features, soil disturbance, streams, and range/forage for cattle. Forsite greatly appreciates the chance to collaborate with LNIBDC, and they deserve all the credit for leading the charge on this project.”
Completed in March 2024, the project has delivered substantial benefits, reducing wildfire risk, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and creating jobs and economic development opportunities for LNIB members.
Photo captions (L>R): Steffens Estates area before treatments; Steffens Estates area after treatments. Photo Credit: Tara Griener.
“We’re very happy with the result. I think what we’ve done is not eliminate the potential for wildfire, but we’ve certainly reduced the risk of a very intense wildfire,” noted Gossoo. “The majority of Indigenous employees that we have out here are at one with nature. To them, it’s not about what we take, especially as it relates to harvesting, it’s about what we leave.”
“Supporting projects like this empowers local groups to build capacity and help address long standing deficits in active forest management,” added McGourlick. “Multi-year funding projects provide these groups with stable work to support expansion and investment in equipment and people that contribute to a growing pool of resources that can be drawn on to complete a variety of resource management initiatives.”
Shulus Forest Entreprises LP recently secured another tranche of funding through FESBC to complete an additional 80 hectares of treatments adjacent to Steffens Estates and complete the prescription and planning specific to wildfire risk reduction work around critical communications infrastructure on Iron Mountain, south of Merritt. This work is expected to occur over two years with a planned completion date of March 2027.
“Wildfire risk reduction is one of the most important ways we can protect people, homes, and vital infrastructure – especially as our province faces the growing impacts of climate change,” said the Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “We’re proud to support the work led by the Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation which shows how local leadership, backed by strong partnerships, is creating safer, more resilient communities.”
To learn more about the wildfire risk reduction work carried out by the LNIBDC crews and the importance of it, watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9yzREdIJPU
For an interview with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison Direct: 250 574 0221 | communications@fesbc.ca
About FESBC: the purposes of FESBC are to advance environmental and resource stewardship of B.C.’s forests by – preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires; improving damaged or low-value forests; improving habitat for wildlife; supporting the use of fibre from damaged and low-value forests; and treating forests to improve the management of greenhouse gases. FESBC has been granted millions of dollars in funding from the government of B.C. to support hundreds of projects, to date, throughout the province.
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FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.