Whereas local governments and First Nations have for more than ten 10 years taken leadership of wildfire risk reduction activities through accessing various provincial funding opportunities, to reduce ourcommunitieswildfire risk includingthrough theUBCM Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative, UBCM Community Resiliency Investment Program,andForest Enhancement Society of BC; And whereas local governments and First Nations are on the front line for community engagementthrough educating the public regardingwildfire risk reductionand providingconcerns and input into proposed planse.g.Community Wildfire Protection Plans, fuel prescription or implementation;this work can take monthsforstaff to ensurelocal governmentsare aligned with science, best practices and community context. And whereas theProvince has recently changed the delivery model for fuel treatments adjacent to communities, but the new Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction program has not clearly identified the role of local governments and First Nations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province to commit to establish and support regionalwildfire mitigationplanning tables that include local governments and First Nations, provincial agencies FLNRORD, BC Wildfire Service, licensees including Community Forests, water user groups, Fire Smart committees, and BC Parks, and other interested groups; And be it further resolved that the regional planning tables will: -Identify priorities for planning and implementation of wildfire risk reduction activities; -Align funding from CRI and other sources; -Coordinate public engagement; -Ensure collaborative communication between all stakeholders; - Ensure effective sharing of techniques, methods and processes between regions; -Monitor the effectiveness of activities, and foresight and maintenance of treatments
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development The government announced the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction CL WRR stream of the Community Resiliency Investment CRI program in 20192020. The mandate of the CL WRR stream is to fund activities on provincial crown land that contribute to a reduction in wildfire risk around communities and is intended to complement the CRI FireSmart Community Funding and Supports FCFS stream for local authorities and Indigenous communities. The CL WRR stream is administered by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development working closely with local governments and First Nations communities to plan for fuel management treatments that are located on Crown land around communities. The BC Wildfire Service BCWS sets program standards and guidance for effective fuel management treatments guided by fire science and measurable reductions in fire behavior as a key outcome. It takes the collaborative efforts of multiple levels of governments and stakeholders working together to achieve wildfire resilient communities. This may include local fire departments, First Nations and local government staff and elected officials, provincial governments such as Emergency Management BC, BCWS and Land Managers, industry representatives and other community stakeholders. In recognition of the important role that local governments and First Nations play in supporting the implementation of all seven Firesmart disciplines, the 2021 intake of the FCFS stream provides funds under the Interagency Co-ordination activity for developing, coordinating andor participating on a Community Wildfire Resiliency Committee CWRC. The purpose of the committee is to bring together local communities and provincial agency staff with stakeholders to coordinate, plan and share information on Firesmart activities including fuel management. One of the key activities of a CWRC could be the development of fuel management planning tables to support the integration of fuel management planning across jurisdictional boundaries.