Fort Nelson Community Forest to undergo wildfire risk reduction

2,276,958 hectares have burned in the Prince George Fire Centre this year, 2,841,013 have burned across the province.

It is the most area burned in a single year in BC by more than double the previous high, and people are taking note.

The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) has announced they will be “proactively undertaking wildfire risk reduction work” at the Fort Nelson Community Forest.

They are calling it the Fort Nelson Community Forest Fuel Treatment Project.

“The Fort Nelson Community Forest, like others throughout B.C., supports long-term opportunities and contributes to a more diversified forest economy,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests. “As the keepers of B.C.’s biggest community forest, it’s great to see the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and the Fort Nelson First Nation collaborate on this project to better protect their homes, schools, businesses and the surrounding forests that are the lifeblood of their remote communities.”

The project will address 20 hectares of forest – which is roughly 37 football fields – on the southwest side of the Alaska highway.

They will clear and reduce growth of plants and trees in the area to reduce the risk of fire in the area.

Katherine Wolfenden, the board chair of the FNCF, said, “Our community forest partnership is excited to have been selected for funding from FESBC. This project will help the local community have more control over where and how firebreaks and selective reduction of high-risk areas occur next to the community. As a new and developing community forest, this project is helping us implement one of our guiding management goals to support and invest in community wildfire prevention initiatives.”

The treatment will also focus on “protecting and enhancing the Boreal caribou ungulate winter range,” among other things.

You can read more about the project here.