New funding supports community projects to reduce wildfire risks, restore local ecosystems
More communities throughout B.C. will be better protected from wildfire risk, keeping people safe.
With a new annual investment to fund forest enhancement projects throughout the province, people in British Columbia are benefiting from good-paying jobs and wildfire-resilient forests.
Through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), the Province is committing $20 million per year over three years supporting First Nations, local governments, community forests, local forestry companies and community organizations. This investment funds projects that reduce wildfire risk, restore forest ecosystems and improve the long-term health and resilience of B.C.’s forests.
“The best wildfire is the one that never starts. The best way to protect communities is to work together to prevent them,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Through this investment into FESBC, we’re investing in wildfire resilience and this means local logs for local mills to create local jobs.”
Projects focused on wildfire risk reduction
This year, 60 forest enhancement projects are receiving funding. These projects not only reduce wildfire risk, they also support forest-sector jobs in rural and remote communities. The projects include:
- creating landscape-level fuel breaks
- removing residual fuels
- carrying out prescribed burns
- making improvements to egress routes that are important in the event of an emergency or evacuation
Other benefits of wildfire risk-reduction work include restoring wildlife habitat, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering improved ecosystem health. It also recovers valuable fibre that might otherwise go to waste, fibre that can help keep B.C. mills running.
“These projects reflect the innovation and commitment we continue to see from proponents throughout British Columbia,” said Jason Fisher, executive director, FESBC. “The work being funded will help create healthier, more resilient forests by reducing wildfire risk to better protect communities, restoring important ecosystems and supporting communities that depend on our forests. We are pleased to invest in projects that deliver lasting environmental, social and economic benefits for British Columbians.”
Many of the projects receiving funding are led by Indigenous organizations, First Nations partnerships and community forests that are delivering locally driven solutions for wildfire resilience and sustainable forest management.
Read the full news release at https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026FOR0031-000669