Westbank First Nation office.
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
October 24, 2021 - 4:45 PM
The Westbank First Nation has received an award for its leadership in developing a wildfire risk mitigation plan.
Two community forest awards, along with $10,000 grants, have been awarded to the West Boundary Community Forest for 2020 and the Westbank First Nation for 2021, according to the Ministry of Forests.
Established in 2016, the Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry and accompanying grant are given annually to the community forest best exemplifying the values exhibited by the late Robin Hood – a British Columbia community forest pioneer – and the B.C. community-forest program.
Westbank First Nation Community Forest was awarded for leadership in wildfire risk reduction and taking the lead on a planning process to develop a wildfire risk management plan for the community forest that includes a 10-kilometre buffer.
It is also working closely with the community on FireSmart and wildlife hazard mitigation projects. In addition, the community forest has provided an opportunity for Westbank First Nation members studying forest management in university and college to apply their skills within their territory, according to the ministry.
The awards were presented during the British Columbia Community Forest Association annual general meeting Oct. 22.
The BCCFA is a non-profit society and advocate for community forestry in B.C. that provides input on forest policy to facilitate community forest initiatives.
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