Forest Enhancement Society of B. C Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. Steve Kozuki RPF, Executive Director NCLGA  May 10th 2019

Background On February 26, 2016, the B.C. Government announced the formation of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) with initial funding of $85M.  The Government envisioned the Society becoming an efficient organization which would deliver cost-effective and impactful programs to improve B.C. communities’ resilience to wildfire while improving forest fibre utilization, forest carbon management, forest value and wildlife habitat. In February, 2017, the B.C. Government announced additional grant funding of $150M to the Society to be focused on forest carbon.

FESBC Board of Directors & Staff Wayne Clogg, Board Chair Jim Snetsinger, Vice Chair, Governance and HR Committee Chair Brian Banfill, Finance Committee Chair Dave Peterson, ADM, Tenures, Competitiveness and Innovation  ___________________________________________________________ Executive Director » Steve Kozuki Operations Managers » Dave Conly, Ray Raatz and Gord Pratt Office Manager » Kathy Dupuis Communications Liaison » Aleece Laird Finance Manager » Heather Bepple 

FESBC Partners FLNRORD  – Providing guidance, identifying priorities, authorizations and consideration of legislative and policy changes BC Parks – Delivering some projects Forest Licensees – Delivering projects, but responsible for their legal obligations Local Governments – Seeking funding and gaining public support First Nations – Seeking funding and delivering projects UBCM – Administering Community Resiliency Initiative HCTF – Administering habitat improvement program

Application Guide The Application Guide outlines: Applicant Eligibility & How to Apply FESBC Roles & Responsibilities Project Selection Criteria Application Review and Assessment Process Project Delivery, Amendments & Final Reporting Project Finances & Eligible Costs

Getting Started with Projects TO BE CLEAR: FESBC is not the land manager. Planning activities and granting permits on Provincial Crown land is a government responsibility. FESBC’s role is project selection and helping to fund delivery. We work closely with Provincial agencies who identify the highest priority areas for treatment based on wildfire risk, forest rehabilitation, fibre recovery opportunities, habitat restoration needs, and improving the management of greenhouse gases. Within these areas, the highest priority projects will be those which meet multiple Society objectives. A ramping-up of projects occurred in 2018. The number of projects and funding allocations has increased substantially. FLNRORD is undertaking Integrated Investment Planning, critical to wise investment decisions.

Eligible Applicants Currently: All forest tenures - Community Forests and Woodlots, FNWL, majors, etc. First Nations Governments and Businesses Business entities performing or providing forestry services on behalf of government and/or industry Conservation organizations Local Governments - Municipalities and Regional Districts  Provincial Government resource management agencies; primarily the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development

Approved Funding $177 million 168 projects FESBC Purpose Approved ($ millions) Number of Projects Wildfire reduction 39 86 Improving damaged forests 20 27 Wildlife habitat improvement 4 13 Fibre recovery 11 Forest carbon management 110 31 TOTAL $177 million 168 projects

First Nations Participation Minister Donaldson wrote a letter to FESBC Chair Wayne Clogg on Jan 8, 2018: “To support true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, our government is fully adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Please ensure that going forward your organization incorporates the UNDRIP and TRC, given the specific mandate and context of your organization.” FESBC endorses the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its calls to action as well as the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Up to early 2019, 27% of the projects funded by FESBC are led by First Nations proponents or have significant First Nations participation (46 projects valued at $55 million). This is not surprising given that both First Nations and FESBC have a great interest in the enhancement of BC’s Crown forests.

FESBC Economic Contribution PROGRAM Expenditures Total Output Total GDP Total Household Income Total Gov’t Revenue Total Employment Wildfire Reduction 37.5 52.8 26.5 19.8 5.4 327 Improving Damaged Forests 24.4 34.3 17.2 12.8 3.6 213 Wildlife Habitat Improvement 0.9 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.14 9 Fibre Recovery 3.2 4.5 2.3 1.7 0.47 28 Forest Carbon Mgmt. 97.1 136.8 68.6 51.0 14.1 846 Total 163.1 229.8 115.2 85.8 23.7 1,423

Wildfire Risk Reduction Fuel management treatment to reduce wildfire risk, rehabilitate low value forests, restore cultural attributes and enhance wildlife habitat Before 3 Years After

Wildfire Risk Reduction Frequent wildfires are natural in dry interior forests. Circa 1917? 2017

Sheep need semi-open forests Reforestation Habitat Enhancement Planting damaged forests accelerates the recovery of ecological processes and improves timber supply. Sheep need semi-open forests

Slash piles chipped to make bioenergy instead of being burned. Enhanced Utilization Slash piles chipped to make bioenergy instead of being burned.

Questions?  www.fesbc.ca