The Land Based Investment Strategy (LBIS) is investing $3.4 million in the Nadina district for reforestation, timber supply mitigation, forest health and inventory. The LBIS funding will increase both mid- and long-term timber supplies, mitigating the effects of the mountain pine beetle infestation and wildfires.

The Land Based Investment Strategy guides investments in British Columbia's natural resources to achieve environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

LBIS funding in Nadina will support:

• The planting of 17,000 seedlings and plans are underway to fertilize 4,500 hectares, producing an additional 90,000 cubic metres of timber in the mid-term (20 to 60 years) and long term (60+years).

• Site preparation of 850 hectares to enable the planting of 1.3 million seedlings next spring producing an extra 210,000 cubic metres to long-term timber supply.

• Surveying of 8,000 hectares to find treatable ground for reforestation, fertilizing and improved spacing, resulting in an additional 13,000 cubic metres of timber for both short- and long-term supplies.

• Planning and prescriptions to sow almost two million seedlings this fall, adding 300,000 cubic metres to long-term timber supplies.

The 2012-13 Land Based Investment Strategy will invest $78.6 million, a 15 per cent increase over last year. About 5.3 million hectares of new and updated inventory will be completed this year.

Growing trees and investing in reforestation to ensure a sustainable timber supply are part of the forest sector strategy, outlined in 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan'.

A copy of Our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia can be downloaded from: www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261