West of Williams Lake, along Palmer Lake Road in the Cariboo Chilcotin region, a new chapter in the life of the forest is unfolding. Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR), a joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation, Tl’etinqox Government, and Yunesit’in Government, is applying the lessons it learned from its Pressy Lake fibre utilization pilot project to another large-scale forest rehabilitation opportunity.
Eight years after the devastating Plateau wildfire of 2017, damaged forests that could not be salvaged to produce lumber have regenerated at high densities and with high vertical fuel loading, presenting future challenges for land managers. CCR applied what it had learned from its previous experience reclaiming damaged stands in the Pressy Lake area to treat or remove the standing fuels in the Palmer Lake area, salvaging the wood before it falls and increases fire risk, while also reducing or thinning out the stocking levels in the understory.
In the planning process, CCR strategically designed buncher and skidder trail patterns for machines to roll over small trees with the intention to space out new growth while harvesting burnt trees. The approach at Palmer not only reduces competition among seedlings but also allows for meaningful recovery of pulp chips and biomass for pellet and energy plants in areas that would not usually be considered for this work because of distance to biomass facilities.
“We are creating productive resilient forests through innovative operational approaches,” said Daniel Persson, Registered Professional Forester and CCR’s Forestry Superintendent. “By treating the site in a smart and strategic way, we’re creating longer-term value, not just for First Nations communities and industry, but for the environment, too.”
An extremely dense post-wildfire pine regeneration requiring brushing to promote a healthy, resilient future forest. Photo Credit: CCR
Once the burnt trees are harvested, the logs are sorted based on overall condition, getting the right recovered fibre to the right biomass facility. The burnt bark and charred fibre go to Drax, where it’s processed into pellets for bioenergy, while the core, or solid wood of the burnt tree that are still in decent shape, are chipped and sent to Cariboo Pulp & Paper for use in pulp production.
With funding investments from FESBC, as well collaboration with the Federal Government and local Forest Districts and other industry partners, CCR has taken on high-impact projects like Palmer.
Unlike the mixed-species forested area at Pressy Lake, the trees in Palmer are overwhelmingly fire damaged pine, which has simplified sorting and reduced downtime for crews.
“We’ve learned a lot from the Pressy Lake project,” shared Joe Webster, Operations Manager for Tsi Del Del Biomass. “That project required more sorting due to fir, spruce, and pine mixes. With Palmer being 100% pine, we can operate more efficiently and focus on quality fibre recovery.”
The Palmer project is proving to be more than a technical success; it’s an investment in more resilient forests for the future. But at its heart, it reflects CCR’s commitment to Indigenous-led stewardship, environmental resilience, and community well-being.
Through CCR’s innovative forest rehabilitation practices, the Indigenous business partnership is transforming areas post-wildfire into opportunities to restore ecosystems, recover fibre, and build economic and environmental security for the people who call the territory home.
As Percy Guichon, CEO of CCR and elected Councillor of Tŝideldel First Nation, noted, “We want to leave behind a legacy, a resilient forest that not only sustains our people but supports wildlife and future generations. We’re helping Mother Nature recover, and that’s something we’re proud of.”
Scan the QR code to watch a video of CRR’s Palmer Project.
To learn more about Indigenous-led projects throughout British Columbia, read the full Special Report released by FESBC, in collaboration with the BC First Nations Forestry Council.