WHEREAS the southern interior of the province contains many uneconomical and marginally economical forest types; AND WHEREAS the structure of these forest typesdense, small diameter trees, and many dead and dying treesconstitute a significant wildfire hazard and resolution of the small wood issue was highlighted in the Honourable Gary Filmons 2003 Firestorm Review: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government resolve to fully implement the following Filmon Review recommendations: - The Ministry of Forests should consider amending Annual Allowable Cut determinations in fire-prone ecosystems to encourage hazard reduction treatments by tenure holders in marginal and uneconomic tree stand areas within the wildland-urban interface. - The province should investigate alternatives to stumpage as an incentive to encourage the harvest of high risk, low value fuel types. - Industry should undertake research into the use of small diameter trees in non-traditional forest products markets such as energy and bio-fuel.
Ministry of Forests and Range Government has responded to the recommendations of the Filmon report, and in conjunction with UBCM has supported the development of over 60 Community Wildfire Protection Plans to aid in fuel hazard identification and mitigation. The Province is assisting communities with the costs of reducing interface fire risks through UBCM. Funding support is available for the preparation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans 15,000 in kind, for operational fuel management projects, and for fuel management pilot projects 25,000 in kind. The Province is working with communities on a number of Fuel Management Pilot Projects, aimed at testing different fuel treatments and their economic and operational viability. Discussions over tenure forms and stumpage rates will occur in conjunction with these projects. There are a number of tenure types that may be suitable for interface fuel management activities. These include the community salvage licences, forestry licences to cut, direct awards for First Nations and community forest licences. Timber pricing for salvage timber associated with interface fuel management is based on average-based tabular stumpage rates that often favour operations close to communities with local mills. Fire crews have been assisting with projects when not on fire duty 46 areas this year including Logan Lake and Prince George. The aim of these projects is public safety and community protection. Fuel mitigation treatments focus on forest fuels within 2-km of the Wildland Urban Interface areas as identified in the Provincial Strategic Threat Analysis. The Province is supporting research at a provincial and national level into the development of bio-fuels such as ethanol, bio-diesel, synthetic gas and wood pellets, as well as co-generation and power generation opportunities.