| Skeena Region |
| Biomass from Thinning Overdense Stands |
Skeena Sawmills Ltd. |
Forest Carbon |
Skeena Sawmills is undertaking an economic feasibility study to evaluate whether residual waste leftover from thinning immature stands can be used as a biomass source in the form of pellets, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by avoiding the use of coal to generate energy. The harvesting activity of pre-thinning densely forested areas will also result in increased long-term forest health and productivity, leading to additional carbon sequestration (storage) benefits. Thinning of stands will accelerate the development of old-growth forest characteristics by encouraging the growth of larger diameter trees and result in improved wildlife habitat. |
Terrace |
| Multiple Seedlots to Increase Carbon Sequestration |
Bulkley Valley Research Centre, FLNRORD - Forest Improvement and Research Management |
Forest Carbon |
Research using FLNRORD's tree growth modeling program Tree and Stand Simulator (TASS) to examine the ability of tree seeds from different climatic origins (that possess varying climatic and pest tolerances) to naturally buffer against climate extremes and pest damage. |
Smithers |
| Pinnacle Smithers Incremental Haul Program |
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. |
Forest Carbon |
This project enables the recovery of marginal fibre not economical to haul long distance. Recovered fibre will be utilized by Pinnacle Renewable Energy's pellet facility in Smithers, BC instead of being burned. The project results in the recovery of approximately 100,000 cubic metres of residual fibre from Bulkley Timber Supply Area. |
Smithers |
| Seaton Forest Products Dry Fibre Utilization |
Seaton Forest Products Ltd. |
Forest Carbon |
The goal of this project is to utilize waste wood, primarily dry balsam, some pine, and spruce, that cannot be used by traditional mills and is normally left in the bush or burned. This project will help with costs beyond Seaton Forest Products Ltd.’s economic limit, allowing increased fibre utilization and reduction of carbon emissions from burning. Seaton Forest Products, located 9 km west of Witset First Nation and on Wet'suwet'en traditional territory, is also able to provide up to 22 local jobs, employing up to 15 workers from surrounding indigenous communities. The project facilitates the utilization of approximately 289,000 cubic metres of residual fibre from Bulkley Timber Supply Area. Seaton Forest Products produces cants (large dimension squared-off logs to be further processed into smaller dimensional lumber) out of logs which are not used in local mills. The cants are shipped to China where there’s a strong market for this type of Canadian product. |
Smithers |
| Terrace Community Forest Silviculture Strategy Treatments |
Terrace Community Forest LLP |
Forest Carbon |
This project aims to thin young stands within the Terrace Community Forest (TCF) tenure and rehabilitate low-value forests, enhance wildlife habitat, and increase the opportunity to recover wood fibre for other uses--such as pellet production. The information learned from this project is being shared to benefit other forested areas of the Coast Mountains Resource District. Without some form of silviculture treatment, the area would be left with its current composition resulting in delayed availability of trees for harvest and increased amount of underutilized fibre. Without treatment, the Community Forest’s allowable annual cut volume is reduced which lowers overall financial benefits for the community through revenue generation. |
Terrace |
| Grinding Residual Fibre for Pellet Plant |
Terrace Community Forest LLP |
Forest Carbon |
Terrace Community Forest has several piles of residual fibre from earlier harvesting that were slated to be burned. The piles have been curing for over two years to reduce moisture content for easier burning. With the recent opening of Skeena BioEnergy's pellet plant the fibre can now be ground and transported to the pellet plant. This project augmented the additional costs associated with transporting the residual fibre to pellet facilities and results in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the burning of the material which was otherwise uneconomical to transport. |
Terrace |
| Residual Fibre Utilization for Pellets |
Skeena BioEnergy |
Forest Carbon |
This project facilitates the utilization of approximately 22,000 cubic metres of residual fibre from the Kalum and Kispiox Timber Supply Areas which would otherwise be burned. The slash piles will be utilized by Skeena BioEnergy’s new pellet facility in Terrace. The resulting pellets are used around the world to produce green energy, which often displaces fossil fuels, potentially reducing overall carbon emissions. |
Terrace |
| Francois Lake Carbon Emission Reduction |
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. |
Forest Carbon |
The goal of this project is to recover residual fibre from the south side of Francois Lake for utilization by Pinnacle Renewable Energy as pellets. This activity will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the burning of this fibre which isn't otherwise economical to transport on its own. |
Burns Lake |
| Northwest BC Residual Fibre Utilization |
Coast Tsimshian Resources LP |
Forest Carbon |
This project will be delivered through a collaborated effort between Coast Tsimshian Resources and Skeena Sawmills, with the additional support of Harmac Pacific. The goal is to increase fibre utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing residual fibre in northwest British Columbia that's currently not economically feasible to remove from the harvest area and would normally be left for burning. The project facilitates access to stands where it would otherwise be uneconomic to remove pulp logs but where removing the fibre will stimulate healthy forest growth. Once removed, the residual fibre will be transferred for chipping, providing a chip supply to the coastal pulp industry. Any remaining biomass will be pelletized for use as green energy. |
Terrace |
| Incremental Haul Pilot Project |
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. |
Fibre Recovery |
This project facilitated the recovery and utilization of residual fibre by piloting various sorting and hauling opportunities. The pilot will be evaluated by Forest Product Innovations Ltd. and will guide future incremental hauling opportunities. The fibre is otherwise uneconomic to transport from logged areas and would have been left on site and burned. This funding facilitated the transportation to Pinnacle's pellet manufacturing facilities. The program expanded significantly after the completion of this successful pilot. |
Burns Lake |
| Burns Lake Incremental Haul Program |
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. |
Fibre Recovery |
The goal of this project is to recover approximately 65,000 cubic metres of residual fibre for utilization at Pinnacle Renewable Energy in Burns Lake, BC. This will significantly reduce fibre left on site to be slash burned during standard post-harvest operations. The result of this activity is an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emission by avoiding burning activity. |
Burns Lake |
| Coast Mountains Fibre Utilization |
Westland Resources Limited |
Fibre Recovery |
Utilization of uneconomic pulp logs to be delivered to Harmac Pacific near Nanaimo from two licences in the Terrace area held by First Nations companies (Kitselas First Nation and Kitsumkalum Galts'ap Community) and Skeena Sawmills TFL 41. The Coast Mountains Fibre Utilization Project aims to increase fibre utilization and reduce CO emissions by the extraction and utilization of decadent pulp fibre. This fibre is beyond the current economic circle and would otherwise be left to waste and burnt in slash piles. The project will be a collaborative effort on the part of licencees in the Coast Mountains Natural Resource District (Kalum Ventures Limited, Kitselas Forestry Limited Partnership and Skeena Sawmills), with the additional support of a key pulp producer on the BC Coast (Harmac Pacific). This collaboration will ensure the efficient and economic delivery of the project from harvest to final product. The avoidance of pile burning results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the achievement of B.C.'s and Canada's climate change targets. |
Terrace |
| Increased Fibre Utilization in Kispiox TSA |
NorthPac Forestry Group Ltd. |
Fibre Recovery |
Utilization of residual waste fibre that would otherwise be burnt in the Kispiox Timber Supply Area (Hazelton) will instead be used by coastal pulp mills. Since the closure of the last local pulp mill in the early 2000s, forestry in Northwest B.C. has been a very difficult business. A combination of high operating costs and low value fibre means that, in order to sustain a viable business, they often have to make the difficult decision of leaving the pulp on the block to be burned. Leaving the pulp is, in many cases, the only solution as there is not enough profit made from the sawlog portion of the profile to justify the incremental costs of skidding, processing, loading, and hauling pulp (along with the increased road maintenance costs). This is especially difficult within the Kipsiox TSA, where there are minimal processing facilities and a timber profile that is dominated by low value hemlock. This project will help to avoid pile burning so there will be fewer greenhouse gas emissions. This will contribute to the achievement of B.C.'s and Canada's climate change targets. |
Hazelton |
| Pinnacle Intake 7 Proposal |
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. |
Fibre Recovery |
Utilization of waste wood by the Pinnacle Smithers pellet plant. The project extends the distance of the recovery of residual waste fibre and allows this fibre to be utilized instead of burnt. The avoidance of pile burning results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the achievement of B.C.'s and Canada's climate change targets. |
Smithers |
| Skeena Region Whitebark Pine Seed Collection |
Bulkley Valley Research Centre |
Stand Rehabilitation |
Whitebark pine is an important, and endangered, component of diverse and resilient higher elevation forests in inland portions of the southern Skeena Region. Whitebark pine is important for wildlife and considered a keystone species because it's often the first to establish on disturbed sites and enables the growth of other tree species. There's a shortage of registered seeds collected from parent trees showing resistance to the deadly white pine blister rust. This project focused on taking advantage of a good seed crop, which occur once every 10 years or so in Skeena Region, and involved region-wide seed collection. FESBC funding was used to collect seeds to be used for plantings on disturbed higher elevation sites where the primary goal is site rehabilitation and carbon storage. |
Various |
| Silviculture Strategy for Terrace Community Forest |
Terrace Community Forest |
Stand Rehabilitation |
This project included the development of a silviculture strategy for the Terrace Community Forest to identify stands marginal or uneconomical stands that could benefit from a silviculture treatment. These stands may be spaced, pre-commercial thinned, replanted or have other treatments that improve their growth and vigour. |
Terrace |
| Exploring Ideas to Increase Marginal Sawlog Utilization in Bulkley TSA |
BCTS Babine |
Stand Rehabilitation |
BC Timber Sales, in partnership with local forest licensees, wishes to develop procedures to increase the utilization of marginal fibre, primarily in balsam stands in the Bulkley timber supply area. A report indicated that increased valuation of forest carbon could result in benefits for both utilization as well as climate change mitigation. |
Smithers |
| Terrace Spacing of 2nd Growth Stands - Project 1 |
FLNRORD, Coast Mountains |
Stand Rehabilitation |
The goal of this project was to thin overly dense hemlock and amabilis fir stands to facilitate healthier and faster tree growth. These stands had densities of over 5,000 stems per hectare (sph), which limits the ability of trees to grow, yielding many small and variable diameter logs unsuitable for sawlogs. By spacing these stands down to 800-1000 sph, trees grow larger in height and diameter, reaching target sawlog dimensions 30 years sooner than unspaced stands. The overall total stand volume growth rates are maintained, resulting in the improvement of low-value stands to high-value stands suitable for sawlogs. |
Terrace |
| Terrace Spacing of 2nd Growth Stands - Project 2 |
FLNRORD, Coast Mountains |
Stand Rehabilitation |
The goal of this project was to thin overly dense hemlock and amabilis fir stands to facilitate healthier and faster tree growth. These stands had densities of over 5,000 stems per hectare (sph), which limits the ability of trees to grow, yielding many small and variable diameter logs unsuitable for sawlogs. By spacing these stands down to 800-1000 sph, trees grow larger in height and diameter, reaching target sawlog dimensions 30 years sooner than unspaced stands. The overall total stand volume growth rates are maintained, resulting in the improvement of low-value stands to high-value stands suitable for sawlogs. |
Terrace |
| Cheslatta Carrier Nation Fire Damage Stand Rehabilitation |
Cheslatta Carrier Nation |
Stand Rehabilitation |
The primary purpose of this project is to salvage wood and rehabilitate stands moderately and heavily damaged in the 2018 wildfires. Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) has a positive and proven history in the forest industry and the Nation depends on the forests to provide not only for their cultural well-being but for an array of financial opportunities. To grow their forestry division, CCN undertook development on their forestry tenures and made a significant investment in harvesting equipment with the intention of using the volume from these tenures to maintain their forest operations. Logging had just begun in these areas when wildfire burned much of the area in the summer of 2018, resulting is a substantial loss of revenue. CCN sought funding from FESBC to rehabilitate the fire-damaged stands and mitigate some of the financial loss experienced in 2018 by providing an opportunity to use the equipment and employ those who were left without work after the fires. The total project area, including heavily-damaged stands, will see trees removed from about 100 hectares of fire-damaged area. These areas will then be rehabilitated. |
Burns Lake |
| Cheslatta Carrier Nation - Heavy Fire Damage Stand Rehabilitation |
Cheslatta Carrier Nation |
Stand Rehabilitation |
The primary purpose of this project is to salvage wood and rehabilitate stands heavily damaged in the 2018 wildfires. Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) has a positive and proven history in the forest industry and the Nation depends on the forests to provide not only for their cultural wellbeing but for an array of financial opportunities. To grow their forestry division, CCN undertook development on their forestry tenures and made a significant investment in harvesting equipment with the intention of using the volume from these tenures to maintain their forest operations. Logging had just begun in these areas when wildfire burned much of the area in the summer of 2018, resulting is a substantial loss of revenue. CCN sought funding from FESBC to rehabilitate the fire-damaged stands and mitigate some of the financial loss experienced in 2018 by providing an opportunity to use the equipment and employ those who were left without work after the fires. The total project area, in combination with moderately-damaged stands, will see trees removed from about 400 hectares of fire-damaged area. These areas will then be rehabilitated. |
Burns Lake |
| Whitebark Pine Seed Collection and Planting |
SERNbc |
Stand Rehabilitation |
This project involves the management of the whitebark pine restoration program including seed collection and planting of 6500 disease-resistant whitebark pine trees. Whitebark pine provides important habitat and food for wildlife. |
Various |
| Boer Mountain Wildfire Risk Reduction Treatment |
Burns Lake Community Forest Ltd. |
Wildfire Risk Reduction |
The project area of about 155 hectares is home to the Burns Lake Mountain Bike Park and Trails and a small campground. The area is heavily used by recreational hikers and is known as a world-class mountain biking destination. As such, the area is managed to maintain the enjoyment and safety of these recreational activities. The area was heavily impacted by mountain pine beetle and the deadfall and fuel loading had become a considerable hazard. The adjacent forests also had a high level of fuel loading and the entire area is subject to trees falling over from dead and rotting beetle-attacked pine. The goal of this project was to reduce fuel loading and wildfire risk while maintaining recreational values. |
Burns Lake |
| Granisle Wildfire Risk Reduction Treatment |
Babine Lake Community Forest Society |
Wildfire Risk Reduction |
Babine Lake Community Forest (BLCF) is held in equal partnership between Lake Babine Nation and the Village of Granisle. Together they are mitigating wildfire risk and creating a protection zone around the village by planting a buffer of deciduous trees. Previous community wildfire protection plans recommended treatments around the perimeter of the Village located inside the BLCF boundary. This plan meets the Village’s goal of reducing the wildfire hazard associated with the mature conifer stands close to the community and creating a long-term wildfire hazard mitigation solution in establishing a protection zone around the Village. Planting the area with deciduous trees, like birch, will result in stands less susceptible to extreme wildfire behaviour and allow for forest and economic diversification. |
Granisle |
| District of Houston Wildfire Risk Reduction Treatments |
District of Houston |
Wildfire Risk Reduction |
The 2018 District of Houston Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) identified where wilfire risk reduction treatments may be required - over 1,000 hectares. The goal of this project is to conduct fuel modification treatments on approximately 1,000 hectares to mitigate hazard from fires adjacent to, or coming from the southwest of the community, as it was identified in the CWPP that prevailing winds and probable fire threat will be from this direction. Long-term objectives are to convert this stand to a more dominant deciduous stand, which will be more resistant to wildfire. Additional goals are to reduce fuel loading, reduce surface fuels left by harvesting activities, and to ensure safe access into this area for future fire suppression activities. |
Houston |
| Nadina Burns Lake Community Forest Fire Break |
Burns Lake Community Forest Ltd. |
Wildfire Risk Reduction |
The focus of the project is to reduce wildfire risk to the largest industrial complexes in the Lakes District, an area dominated by pine stands attacked by the mountain pine beetle. The project will result in creation of a fire break between 50-200 metres in width. All conifers will be removed from the fire break zone and in some areas dead pine will be removed to enhanceme wildlife habitat. All of the wildfire risk reduction treatments funded for this project was for the portion of works completed over and above the normal harvesting activities. This project could not have been completed without coordinating the treatments with normal harvest operations. |
Burns Lake |
| Wetzin'kwa Community Forest Strategic Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Plan |
Wetzin'kwa Community Forest Corporation |
Wildfire Risk Reduction |
The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest (WCF) is in close proximity to the Town of Smithers and Village of Telkwa, and has been impacted by mountain pine beetle. The beetle-killed pine has created variable levels of dry fuel hazard, both in mature stands and in recent salvage logging blocks. With the right conditions, a fire could result and put community values and property at risk. Potential high-hazard areas were identified based on available inventory information and field data collection was conducted in various stand types to allow for an analysis of the level of fuel loads and subsequent recommended potential treatments to reduce wildfire threat. This project created a Strategic Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Plan (SWHMP) that will be used to guide the identification and prioritization of treatment areas that pose significant wildfire risk due to the composition, distribution, and/or continuity between forest fuels. The SWHMP is intended to guide the development, implementation, and maintenance of fuel management prescriptions as well as the development of alternative forest management practices promoting fire resiliency. |
Smithers |
