WHEREAS provincial policy does not permit the removal of standing dead trees and windblown trees, or the removal of timber to create fireguards, from provincial parks; AND WHEREAS this level of environmental protection leads to the accumulation of fuel, exposing provincial parks themselves and adjacent forest and communities to an ever-greater fire risk with consequential human, environmental and economic loss: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be petitioned to reconsider the parks forest management policy to: aencourage the clean-up of blow-down timber and standing dead timber; and bpermit the construction of firebreaks to minimize the risk of fire damage to parks and adjacent areas.
MINISTRY OF WATER, LAND AND AIR PROTECTION The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection recognizes the concern of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities UBCM members in the intention of this resolution. The recent updates to the polices of the ministry does allow for fuel management, including fire breaks, in areas of concern. The ministry is preparing guidelines to help decision makers choose the appropriate response to fuel management. This includes utilizing prescribed burning, tree removal or a combination of these treatments as appropriate when required for human health and safety, ecological restoration and forest health purposes when natural processes such as fire cannot be used.