The B.C. Ministry of Forests made a presentation to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) at the end of last year.

Nadina Natural Resource District resource manager Neal Marincak, Babine Area woodlands supervisor Jon Penninga and BC Timber Sales (BCTS) woodlands manager Mike Watson provided a PowerPoint presentation to the district at its Dec. 12 board meeting, outlining a general overview of BCTS goals, objectives and principals. They also presented a summary of 2023 wildfire salvage plans, including specific details about plans in the district's area of interest.

"Locations where stacked salvage is located and descriptions, including pictures, of what can and can't be salvaged were shared," the ministry stated. "Finally, a brief discussion in response to concerns about the limits of BCTS' responsibility was had."

Some of the topics BCTS discussed were:

• Decks of wood remaining on road right of way and private land being utilized for firewood
• Drax 亚洲天堂 Lake (Pellet Plant)
  • Business decision regarding the use of fibre near old growth forests
  • Future benefits if Drax could utilize the wildfire salvaged fibre
• Forest health concerns regarding the potential for spruce beetle infestation with the wood being decked and left on the landscape
• Concerns regarding the bond required by Ministry of Transportation and Transit to utilize the roadway to remove the salvaged wood
  • Advocating with BC Hydro and ministry to provide considerations to remove the wood from the landscape
• Cheslatta working to remove decked wood on the south side of Francois Lake
• Importance of removing wood from the landscape by spring of 2025
  • Challenges regarding the exact locations of the decked wood
• Sustainability in the forest industry
• Old Growth Management Areas established by B.C.
  • Lack of support from local First Nations for the polygons outlined by the province
• Sawmill shutdowns due to no access to fibre and impacts from wildfires
• Ministry of Forests has received letters from local First Nations, Chinook Community Forest and 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest