Amendments to the Occupiers Liability Act to help prevent resource road closures and reduce the possibility of injury-related lawsuits are now in effect, as the general public heads into the backcountry to enjoy B.C.'s wilderness this summer.

Guide outfitters will benefit from greater business certainty starting July 1, when amendments to the Wildlife Act come into force more than doubling the maximum term of a guiding territory certificate.

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today regulatory changes that provide access to logging slash and wood waste fibre needed by bioenergy producers and manufacturers of wood pellets and other bio-products.

The Yukon has requested firefighting assistance from British Columbia due to an increase in wildfire activity there, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced.

Sensitive alpine areas in the Okanagan Region will benefit from more protection starting July 1, when a new regulation under the Wildlife Act comes into effect prohibiting the use of motor vehicles above 1,700 metres, except on existing roads and trails.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to aerially treat up to 845 hectares of sub-alpine forest to reduce populations of the two-year cycle budworm.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to aerially treat up to 28,000 hectares of forest in the Okanagan to reduce populations of western spruce budworm.

Travellers are advised the road between Wells and Likely - the Cunningham Pass (3100) Forest Service Road - will be closed at 3121 and 3126 kilometres for road repairs, from June 19 to July 3, 2012.

Aspiring and experienced anglers alike can cast their lines for free this Father's Day weekend, as part of the 13th Annual Free Family Fishing weekend.