April 8, 2011
The Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative is a suite of funding programs managed
through the Provincial Fuels Management Working Group - including the First Nations
Emergency Services Society, Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
and the Union of BC Municipalities. The initiative supports communities to mitigate
risk from wildfire in the wildland urban interface.
On April 7, 2011, the Honourable Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural
Resource Operations, announced that the Province is investing $25 million into the
Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative to further protect B.C. families and communities
from the threat of wildfires.
The intent of the new funding will be to support local governments and First Nations at
risk from wildfire to:
- Develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans;
- Develop fuel management prescriptions;
- Implement fuel management demonstration projects, and/or;
- Undertake operational fuel treatment activities
The Provincial Fuels Management Working Group is currently developing the program
and application materials for the new 2011 program. We expect this will include
changes to some of the cost-sharing formulas, enhanced information on project
eligibility, updated application and reporting processes and clearer instructions and
requirements for financial reporting.
We anticipate that the application process will open in the coming weeks. The UBCM
website will be updated when new program materials are available and all UBCM
members will be notified when the 2011 program is launched.
For more information:
Danyta Welch, Policy & Programs Officer
Union of BC Municipalities
(250) 356-5193
dwelch@ubcm.ca
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