Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund Accomplishments Update

A Natural Solution:

Taking Action on Climate Change Using Forests Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund Accomplishments Update — SUMMER 2022

DID YOU KNOW? Over 66 million trees were planted using LCELF Funding (read more next page) Photo: Provincial Forest Carbon Reforestation Project

Photo Credit: Mike Madill

BC and Canada Contribute to Global Action on Climate Change

Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund

To follow through on international commitments and drive Canadian climate action, Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial leaders adopted a made-in-Canada climate plan in 2016. The plan provided funding over five years to support action under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and to work toward transitioning Canada toward more sustainable economic growth and meeting or exceeding the Government of Canada’s target under the Paris Agreement. Under the Forest Carbon Initiative, B.C. proposed to invest in forestry projects that sequester carbon and/or materially reduce carbon emissions. The Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund (LCELF) Agreement is the signed document between the two governments to achieve these goals. The LCELF is an important part of the plan and leveraged investments in projects that generated clean growth and reduced carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Under the Agreement, Canada and British Columbia are jointly investing $290 million. The Province of B.C. is contributing $150 million through Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC). This funding contributed to 134 forestry projects taking action on climate change through the three internationally accepted ways that forests can reduce greenhouse gases: planting trees that otherwise would not be planted (to absorb carbon dioxide from the air), fertilizing trees (when trees grow faster, they absorb carbon dioxide faster), and using waste wood in the forest that otherwise would have been burned (avoiding greenhouse gas emissions). These projects spanned the entire province, and we highlight and celebrate their impressive outcomes.

“ We are in alignment with the Province of BC, the Government of Canada, and the United Nations in recognizing that forestry is a significant nature-based tool we can use to take meaningful action against climate change.” Steve Kozuki,

RPF Executive Director, FESBC

@KozukiSteve

Learn More about Forestry-led Projects Taking Action on Climate Change

Insights from the Minister

“ Prevention, mitigation, and building a province where communities are more resilient to the impacts of climate change is a top priority for our government. The Province’s investment in FESBC through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund supported community projects that reduced wildfire risk, enhanced wildlife habitat, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing residual fibre instead of burning it in slash piles, improved opportunities for people to recreate in our forests, and improved ecological resiliency, all while creating thousands of jobs in the process. FESBC is a proven partner in delivering on-the-ground forestry projects that support a Stronger BC while keeping British Columbia on track with our CleanBC plan.”

Hon. Katrine Conroy Minister of Forests

@KatrineConroy

—Katrine Conroy

Learn about nine of the 134 FESBC-funded forestry projects taking action on climate change. TREE PLANTING

Trees absorb carbon in the atmosphere as they grow. Planting more trees, therefore, is an important nature-based climate solution.

Cariboo Wildfire Forest Carbon Reforestation. Led by the Office of the Chief Forester (OCF) and delivered by Zanzibar Holdings Ltd., Forsite Consultants Ltd., the Ministry of Forests (FOR), and British Columbia Timber Sales, 53.8+ million trees were planted in the Cariboo Region.

Provincial Forest Carbon Reforestation. Led by the OCF and delivered by Silivicon Services Inc., Strategic Natural Resource Consultants Inc., Forsite Consultant Ltd., Vast Resource Solutions Inc, various smaller proponents, and FOR, 12+ million trees were planted throughout B.C.

Skeena Region Whitebark Pine Seed Collection. There was a shortage of registered seeds showing resistance to white pine blister rust. Led by Bulkley Valley Research Centre, Whitebark pinecones were collected, dried, and seeds extracted and stored at the BC Tree Seed Centre for future planting opportunities.

Photo Credit: Mike Madill

Photo Credit: Bulkley Valley Research Centre

FERTILIZATION

The faster trees grow, the more carbon they absorb. Fertilizing trees and shrubs enables them to grow faster to absorb more carbon.

Forest Fertilization. Led by the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society, eligible stands were fertilized to help maintain or improve the health, rate of growth, and overall resiliency of trees in the community forest.

Forest Carbon Fertilization. Led by the OCF and delivered by Western Forest Products Inc., 6,526 hectares within coastal forests were fertilized to generate a positive greenhouse gas benefit.

Haida Gwaii Enhanced Silviculture. Two projects were led by Taan Forest to restore forests, producing mature forest characteristic to improve Haida Gwaii Goshawk forage territory. Combined, over 1,000 hectares were fertilized.

Photo Credit: Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society

Photo Credit: Brent Ziegler

Photo Credit: Taan Forest

ENHANCED UTILIZATION OF WOOD WASTE

Burning wood waste left over after a harvest operation releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including the most harmful, methane and nitrous dioxide. Instead, we can utilize wood waste to create sustainable green energy and potentially reduce the use of using fossil fuels.

First Nations Fibre Recovery. Led by Atlantic Power (Williams Lake) and local First Nations companies, residual forest debris was ground, transported, and used to generate electricity.

Incremental Haul. Led by Arrow Transportation Systems Ltd., the project shipped 40,000 cubic metres of wood waste to Kamloops’ Domtar pulp mill to avoid carbon emissions from roadside burning.

Slash Grinding. Led by Valley Carriers Ltd., 24,000 cubic metres of wood waste was ground in the forest with special equipment and transported to Merritt Green Energy to be converted to electricity. Photo Credit: Valley Carriers Ltd.

By the Numbers

Taking Action on Climate Change with Nature-based Forestry Solutions

150

million dollars

invested into Forestry Projects from LCELF Funding

19,000+

Hectares of B.C. forests fertilized, sequestering .80 million tonnes of CO2e by 2050*

134

Forest Enhancement Projects funded, or partially funded, by LCELF Funding

4.5

million cubic metres of wood waste utilized instead of burned in slash piles, avoiding 1.0 million tonnes of CO2e by 2050*

4.2 = 904,000

Million tonnes of CO2e sequestered or avoided by 2050*

Million trees planted, sequestering approximately 2.4 million tonnes of CO2e by 2050*

1,300+ Full time equivalent jobs created*

Gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for 1 year.

*with LCELF Funding since 2016 ** SOURCE: calculation-greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator (US Environmental Protection Agency)

“Tsi Del Del has really appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with Williams Lake Indian Band on grinding and trucking more than 1,000 piles (of wood fibre) to customers in our local fibre basket. Working together on a business basis has resulted in benefits for both communities and created employment opportunities while making products from this biomass.” —Percy Guichon, Director Tsi Del Del Enterprises Ltd., and Tŝideldel First Nation Councillor

Did you know? Forestry is taking action on climate change and there are many important partners involved. The Forest Carbon Initiative (FCI) was launched in 2017 as a key element of B.C.’s commitment to take action on climate change. B.C. has partnered with FESBC, BC Timber Sales, Forestsfor-Tomorrow and others to deliver FCI.

Future of Forestry Many people in British Columbia and around the world would like to take action on climate change. Women and men working in B.C.’s forests are walking the talk and making some of the biggest contributions to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases. They implement treatments to cut trees to reduce wildfire risk to protect communities, plant trees to accelerate ecological recovery, and use woody biomass to create energy. They do so in a manner that creates numerous co-benefits such as enhancing recreational opportunities, improving wildlife habitat, creating healthier and more resilient forests, and creating jobs in the bioeconomy. They also use wood as a long-lived and ecologically sustainable construction material, substituting energy-intensive products such as concrete and steel. These climate change heroes are often found in the forest wearing hard hats and bright yellow vests.

The goal is to continue to help meet provincial and federal climate change targets by delivering greenhouse gas benefits in the short term (2030), medium term (2050) and beyond through investments on the land base, changing practices, research, education and outreach.

“ Without the FESBC funding we wouldn’t have been able to do the work we’ve done so far and start an initiative for more restoration work. It’s significant towards reconciliation with the Nation and to restoring areas impacted by wareffort and pre-Forest Practices code logging.” —Jeff Mosher, RPF, Chief Forester, Taan Forest

To learn more about FESBC projects taking action on climate change, visit

www.fesbc.ca

FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests. These projects were funded in part by the Government of Canada.

Learn More If you’d like to learn more about the Forest Enhancement Society of BC and how people in British Columbia’s forests are helping create climate change solutions, reduce wildfire risk, and keep workers employed through our funded projects, connect with us! Steve Kozuki, FESBC Executive Director skozuki@fesbc.ca or 1.877.225.2010 Subscribe to our FESBC Newsletter: