LETTER – We need to think outside the box on forest management strategies

As we begin this new fire season it’s important to look back to see what is occurring in our forests, and evaluate what can be done to limit the devastating impacts of uncontrolled wildfires.

B.C. is a large area (double the size of California), and 64 per cent of our land base is forest. Unfortunately, this also represents the amount of fuel that can burn during a dry summer. Fire is nature’s way of renewal, yet large high intensity uncontrolled fires are destroying forest areas that will take many generations to reforest. It is also bringing about recurring environmental damage with additional water runoff, sedimentary deposits in streams, and a host of other challenges because of the intensity of the fires.

Since the adoption of Forest Practices Boards and Codes (B.C. 1995) many different countries, governments and jurisdictions have tried to maintain a balance between conservation and production of a renewable commodity. I say ‘renewable commodity’ because a forest is a living, breathing wonder of nature. Managed properly, it can provide many significant benefits to the environment, animal and plant habitats, along with economic prosperity to our society as a whole.

Many of our forests in B.C. are nearing the end of their life cycle, and this increases the chances of wildfire, and the subsequent risk to people and homes in the interface areas of our towns and populated areas, including through-out the Kamloops and North Thompson region.

After devastating fire seasons like we experienced in 2023, as well as in previous years past, both the Liberal/United, and now the NDP, have had reviews and commissions on what was needed. Regrettably, many of the recommendations were not followed or implemented, even as far back as the Filman Report of 2004.

The Premier’s Expert Task Force, set up in the fall of 2023, made 31 recommendations to the NDP government. They included strengthening community participation in FireSmarting B.C., improving integration of rural and municipal fire departments with BC Wildfire Service fire response, and additional resources for evacuees to support people and families if they are evacuated.

What’s missing? A focus on how we can protect our forests and our homes from these large uncontrolled fires in our interface backyards.

We need to be able to come up with a fire risk reduction strategy that includes larger fuel breaks in size, dedicated ground and arial support, and annual reviews of FireSmart programs. More importantly, we need to have a willingness to think outside the box when we look at the strategies necessary to improve the overall health of our forests.

Together with First Nations we will be able to move to a more sustainable healthy forest management system that recognizes the benefits of the forest, and that protects the 100,000 families who depend on the forest industry (49,000 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs) with a more comprehensive way of integrating the necessary resources to reduce the risk, and that protects the beauty of our province.

WARD STAMER

Editor’s NoteL Ward Stamer is the Conservative Party of BC candidate for the provincial riding of Kamloops – North Thompson.