Wildfire Risk versus Hazard

The difference is key: there is little community risk of wildfire from the Community Forest lands but yes there is hazard to the recreational users and facilities in and near the Community Forest. Pushing fire abatement as a hazard reduction strategy puts undo pressure on logging and mitigation strategies. This results in the forfeit of previously agreed to land use plans protecting common conservation, recreational, heritage and other values.

The Old Growth Deferral Strategy and it’s impact on the Bulkley LRMP

This topic dates back to the Nov. 15, 2021 meeting.

 The strategy concerns the ‘irrevocable loss of old growth’ and the Province’s attempt to address long time recovery systems. The Province has identified proper rights holders as key players in the protection of old growth stands. Holders are tasked with detecting risk to old growth stands and managing forestry operations based on their values. There is no provision for joint consultation with the BVCRB board or independent foresters or other loggers to discuss protection of the values already established in the LRMP. The board frequently discusses the definitions and protection of Old Growth and provides balanced community level feedback on contentious issues.

Seymour Ridge Trail

This topic also dates back to the fall of 2021.

Some members of the board are opposed to the method of fuel management prescribed for the CORE. Logs and timber on the ground are already full of moisture and decay. Having suggested alternative fuel management strategies the board cannot get consensus on the propsed fuel management prescription for the Ridge. Issues:

• fire abatement
• visualizing timber harvest and retention amounts
• other places with similar problems and solutions
• perpetual harvesting strategies
• specialized logging equipment and compact machinery