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

2. 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.

3. 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 

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 The number of projects and funding allocations has increased substantially.
FLNRORD is undertaking Integrated Investment Planning, critical to wise investment decisions.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. Questions?