Media Contacts

Ministry of Forests, Lands,

Natural Resource Operations
and Rural Development
Media Relations
250 213-8172

Backgrounders

Land-based projects support communities, workers

The Forest Employment Program and its $12-million expansion through StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan is funding land-based projects in areas including:

  • forest service roads;
  • wildfire risk reduction;
  • stand management;
  • recreation and trails;
  • range and fencing; and
  • training and implementation.

Completed and ongoing projects under the Stronger BC expansion to the Forest Employment Program include:

  • using local and Indigenous contractors to clear and restore traditionally used trails in Ulkatcho First Nation territory and build First Nation forestry capacity;
  • repairs to Trout Creek Bridge, a key structure on Kettle Valley Rail Trail, near Summerland, Penticton, Peachland and Kelowna within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen;
  • expansion of restoration season to winter for Fort Nelson First Nation Boreal Caribou Protection and Recovery Plan, Kotcho Lake Restoration area in the Snake-Sahtenah Range;
  • rip rap to support replacement of a washed-out bridge on Criss Creek FSR K177, near the Skeetchestn Band;
  • proactive danger tree management and improvement of tree stand health in high-value recreation sites near Port Alberni, Youbou and Lake Cowichan, Port Renfrew, Powell River and Sechelt; and
  • removal and cleanup after seven landslides which blocked access on the Rennell Forest Service Road on Haida Gwaii.

Completed and ongoing projects under the original Forest Employment Program include:

  • wildfire risk reduction through fuel management on the boundary of Mount Pope Provincial Park near Fort St. James that provided opportunities for Indigenous contractors;
  • preparations for a prescribed burn and fuel management to reduce wildfire risk in E.C. Manning Provincial Park, near Princeton and Merritt;
  • creating an airport trail network that encourages people to reduce the risk of wildfires in their own properties in Quesnel;
  • bridge maintenance and repair in the Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District, from Salmon Arm to Keremeos;
  • brushing to improve sightlines for safety on the Hurley Forest Service Road, which sees more than 160 vehicle trips a day and connects the community of Gold Bridge with Pemberton; and
  • improvements of recreation sites and trails impacted by wildfire and floods near the communities of Barriere, Chase, Logan Lake, Kamloops and Sun Peaks.