WHEREAS rural communities, particularly in the 13 resort communities struggle to balance reduction of wildfire hazard, ecosystem health, tourism and social - recreational values in the forests surrounding their municipalities; AND WHEREAS the expectation of long-term timber revenue from wildland-urban interface is in conflict with other compelling values and the 2 kilometre buffer zone is insufficient for many local governments: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Forests and Range update its policies to: a establish community interface forests as unique buffer zones, with local governments empowered to define the zone; b place stumpage revenue from the sale of crown timber off crown land in the zone in trust for the community to manage the community interface forest; c amend existing policies to ensure that the primary management goal within the wildland-urban interface should be the reduction of wildfire hazard and promotion of ecosystem health and resilience; and d work with local governments to fund and implement a comprehensive management program based on current sound science research that protects the economic, environmental and social assets of community interface forests.
Ministry of Natural Resource Operations Helping protect communities from the threat of interface wildfires remains a government priority. Since 2004, the Province has provided more than 37 million to local governments, through the UBCM, to help pay for interface fire preparation. As of August 31, 2010, 197 local governments and First Nations communities have either completed or are in the process of completing community wildfire protection plans. We know these plans work. Community wildfire protection plans are community driven, and balance the need for wildfire protection with local environmental, economic and recreational values. That said, the ministry is always open to ideas for improving community wildfire protection. Emphasis is being placed on developing new commercial opportunities such as bio-energy which will help utilize waste fibre in the interface zone which may not be suitable for traditional wood products making treatments even more economically viable. We fully support the concept presented in the resolution that local governments should review and amend their existing policies and practices to reduce wildfire hazards in interface zones.