NORTHERN BC – In 2017, massive wildfires decimated hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest land in the Chilcotin.
Percy Guichon, Executive Director with the Central Chilcotinn Rehabilitation Limited, says one of them was in his own region. “The Plateau fire in the Hanceville area. I mean, that was 800,000 hectares.”
It left behind what would appear to be useless timber. Mere blackened shadows of a forest. But not so fast.
“We feel we’re obligated to utilize and to rehabilitate these towns so they can, you know, become more productive for for future generations.”
Forestry has been a part of Guichon’s life for years, starting as a tree planter. And much has changed in those subsequent years. Especially, the stewards of the land.
“One of the big differences today is there’s a lot more First Nations within B.C. are involved and the forest management sector. And, you know, a lot of the communities have their own forest licenses.”
And it’s something one local long-time forestry advocate, Mike Morris, agrees with. However, some things still need consideration.
“We have to use different equipment and a different approach to harvesting that material rather than the same old, same old going in with these big pieces of equipment. But the science, in fact, there’s quite a few studies that support that. So we need to look at that as we move forward, say how do we do this without damaging it for the next ten or 20 generations down the road?”
Morris agrees, forest policy needs a facelift. And, for Guichon, that also means clearing up some challenges.
And with, potentially, a new government setting up Victoria, there are opportunities.
