April 1, 2021

Victoria — The B.C. government is investing over $5 million to help Community Forest Agreement holders complete wildfire risk reduction projects as part of the Province’s economic recovery plan to create jobs and help communities deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

“It’s a priority for our government to do everything we can to keep people safe from the threat of wildfires,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “This money will help recipients reduce those risks and also support local employment opportunities.”

The BC Community Forest Association will distribute more than $5 million to 15 holders of community forest agreements around B.C. to fund 44 Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (CLWRR) projects. The CLWRR funding stream is part of the Community Resiliency Investment program administered by the BC Wildfire Service. It supports wildfire risk reduction treatments on provincial Crown land near communities, around critical infrastructure and in areas facing a higher wildfire risk.

“This is a wonderful example of how cross-government efforts can help reduce wildfire risk and make our communities safer,” Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary to Emergency Preparedness, “This funding supports emergency preparedness, and recognizes that mitigation projects are key to improving the resilience of people across British Columbia in the event of disasters, including wildfires.”

StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan provides employment and economic opportunities to support a wide range of projects throughout the province. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is responsible for economic recovery programs worth more than $100 million. This investment in wildfire risk reduction in community forests is one component of that overall recovery strategy.

Learn more at BC Gov News