A community forest agreement will diversify the local economy and create more business for the Babine Lake area, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today at a signing ceremony with the Village of Granisle and the Lake Babine Nation.

Residents of the North will now find it even easier to access government services with the official opening of a brand-new FrontCounter BC office in Fort St. James.

New guidelines have been released to help B.C.'s coastal communities update floodplain area maps and adapt to rising sea levels.

Woodlot licensee George Delisle has received the Minister's Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater announced at a presentation on behalf of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

Effective at 12 noon Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited across the Merritt and Lillooet fire zones within the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Woodlot licensees Alistair Schroff and Earl Ingram - the best in the province this year - are recipients of the Minister's Award of Excellence for Woodlot Management, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad announced on behalf of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

The Cariboo Fire Centre is urging the public to be cautious with fire use as conditions become increasingly hot and dry.

There is currently a restriction on open burning within the Cariboo Fire Centre region. Specifically, this restriction prohibits:

As fire activity levels remain low in B.C., the Wildfire Management Branch continues to be able to deploy crews to Ontario.