The Province, the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and seven Carrier Sekani First Nations have completed an agreement that will increase the First Nations’ participation in the forest economy, while setting the stage to advance reconciliation.

The public has chosen 56 Japanese-Canadian historic places with significance to British Columbians of Japanese descent following a four-month nomination period.

Opportunities for increased local forest stewardship near Likely and Big Lake, east of Williams Lake, could become reality following an invitation from Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson to the Likely-Xatśūll Community Forest and Big Lake Community Association to apply for a community forest agreement.

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 Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns at sites west and south of Williams Lake between April 1 and May 15, 2017, weather conditions permitting.

Cutting-edge health research projects at Genome BC received a big boost with $20 million in new additional government funding, which was announced after recently wrapping up the second annual #BCTECH Summit.

Visitors will soon have more camping opportunities throughout British Columbia with the completion of more than 350 new campsites in BC Parks and forestry recreation sites, in time for the upcoming camping season.

The Province is providing $95,000 so 10 Aboriginal students in the Campbell River-area can learn the skills needed for employment in the British Columbia road building and forestry machinery sector.