B.C.’s network of off-road vehicle-friendly backcountry trails is getting a boost, thanks to a new provincial government fund.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has been issued a pesticide use permit to aerial-spray 182 hectares of residences, park and farm land around Elk Lake in Saanich with a spray approved for use on organic farms, to eradicate a growing population of gypsy moth and minimize the risk they pose to forests, farms, orchards and trees.

The next phase of the logging contractor sustainability review is underway, as the Province works to improve the competitiveness of British Columbia forest sector contractors and licensees.

The B.C. government is providing a total of $232,000 to two local organizations to help manage invasive plants in the Cariboo region.

The B.C. government is providing $73,500 to two organizations to help manage invasive plants in the Fraser Valley.

The provincial government is providing $33,000 to the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver and $10,000 to the City of Richmond to help manage invasive plants in the Lower Mainland.

The B.C. government is providing $20,000 to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to help manage invasive plants in the region.

The B.C. government is providing $107,300 to three organizations to help manage invasive plants in the southern Okanagan.

The B.C. government is providing $73,500 to two organizations to help manage invasive plants in the Chilliwack area.

The B.C. government is providing $91,000 to two organizations to help manage invasive plants in the Sea to Sky area.