Stumpage Rates

WHEREAS there has been a significant increase in wildfires in the Province of British Columbia; AND WHEREAS wildfires continue to threaten British Columbia local governments; AND WHEREAS the Filmon Report commissioned by the Province of British Columbia recommended a strategic plan development that included a recommendation that the Province investigate alternatives to stumpage as an incentive to encourage the harvest of high-risk low value fuel types: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to follow the recommendation of the Filmon Report and lower stumpage rates to provide a cost effective method to remove trees in high interface fire risk communities to provide a method for high risk communities to manage the area for fire safety.