Williams Lake, B.C. – Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR), a joint venture of Tŝideldel First Nation and Tl’etinqox Government, is releasing Part II in their five-part forestry video series, this time with a focus on the environmental benefits of forestry.
“In the Tŝilhqot’in territory, we have an abundance of lodgepole pine, and for the last 25 years, we have had to deal with the mountain pine beetle epidemic, which has just devastated our forests,” shared Percy Guichon, Registered Forest Technician, Executive Director of CCR. “A lot of areas have been left behind by industry and government, and we feel that as Tsilhqot’in people, it is our duty and we’re responsible to manage the forests and get them productive again.”
Photos (left to right): CCR team at Drax, one of CCR's clients in Williams Lake; Wildfires have taken a toll on the traditional territories of Tŝideldel First Nation and Tl'etinqox Government. Wildfire risk reduction projects that CCR is undertaking will help slow down a fire and better protect communities. Photo credit: CCR.
This is where CCR comes in. The mission of the joint venture is to coordinate and implement large-scale forestry programs and initiatives within their traditional territories utilizing Indigenous values.
“We try to incorporate our traditional methods in forestry. We utilize the whole tree, so nothing goes to waste, and when we log in an area, we protect important values such as lakes, rivers, and creeks” said Guichon. “We have been working together with the Provincial and Federal governments to rehabilitate thousands of acres of forested stands within Tŝilhqot’in territory that were uneconomical and unproductive. There were a lot of dead trees that were a wildfire risk to our communities.”
CCR has been salvaging and rehabilitating these areas to help the forest regrow and to improve habitat for wildlife, among other positive outcomes. The strategic forest management work has created openings in the forest that help the sun hit the forest floor to improve the growth of berries, shrubs, and other important food sources and medicinal plants. Additionally, CCR has been utilizing the wood waste. Instead of burning it in slash piles, it has been helping support local industries to create green energy.
“We are creating three products out in the bush through our work,” noted Joe Webster, Manager of Tsi Del Del Biomass. “We create chips for pulp mills, biomass for pellet plants, and hog fuel for power plants. We work to ensure that each industry or plant gets the fibre they need.”
The video features Frankie Nelson, Business Manager of Atlantic Power in Williams Lake, and Mark Puglas, Director, Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships of Drax in Williams Lake; both share how CCR, as a supplier to their businesses, has provided many positive benefits.
“Creating these videos was important to us to help better educate the public as to the work we are doing in forestry to mitigate wildfire risk to communities, create forests that support the growth of important medicinal and food-providing plants, thoughtfully enrich habitat for wildlife, and utilize low-value wood waste to support B.C.’s bioeconomy,” shared Percy. “We were also able to highlight the hard-working people in the forestry sector, the industries we support through our work, and the traditional and innovative forestry practices we are implementing every day out in the forest. We hope the videos will bring awareness to the public as well as inspire other First Nations communities to take a leadership role within forestry.”
The second video in the series is titled: The Environmental Focus of Forestry. The video shows viewers the work being done through forestry to realize environmental benefits.
Watch the second video in the series here:
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