FOR RELEASE: November 27, 2025United First Nations–Industry Coalition Calls for Immediate Wildfire Recovery Action

Vancouver, B.C. — A broad coalition of First Nations, labour, and forest-industry groups is calling on the Province to take immediate action on a practical, low-cost plan to recover fire-damaged timber, reduce wildfire risk, and get fibre flowing to mills struggling with supply shortages.

Last week, the First Nations Forestry Council and nearly all major forest-sector associations sent a joint letter to Forests Minister Ravi Parmar urging two urgent steps: (1) fast-track cutting permits for wildfire-damaged stands, and (2) increase funding for the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to support rapid implementation of pilot projects.

“We have a narrow window to reduce wildfire risk, put people to work, and deliver the fibre our mills urgently need,” said Joe Nemeth, General Manager of the BC Pulp and Paper Coalition. “The industry, First Nations, and experts are aligned — we’re ready to act. What we need now is a timely permit process so this work can begin before next fire season.”

The proposal identifies more than 215 million m³ of fire-damaged timber across B.C. and over 2 million m³ of usable roadside slash fibre annually — material that is currently decaying, adding to fire hazard, or being burned in slash piles, creating unecessary carbon emissions.

Recent technical work completed by industry, First Nations, and government partners confirms that:

• Recovering even 1% of damaged timber each year would create more than 3,000 jobs, mostly in rural and Indigenous communities.

• Sending slash fibre to processing facilities rather than burning it could reduce emissions by up to 1.1 MtCO₂e annually — equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.

• Expanded fibre utilization could contribute more than $275 million per year to B.C.’s economy.

“This Report outlines immediate, medium-term, and long-term actions to strengthen climate-smart forest stewardship, optimize fiber utilization, advance reconciliation, and support stable, sustainable jobs,” says Lennard Joe, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council. It is essential that First Nations fully participate in governance, stewardship, and business, ensuring resilient communities and reconciliation remain at the center of these solutions."

The coalition is urging the province to act quickly by:

• Increasing FESBC funding to $50 million annually to support immediate fibre-recovery and wildfire-risk-reduction projects.

• Implementing a fast-track cutting-permit process for wildfire- and insect-damaged stands, supported by a small expert team working directly with affected First Nations.

• Establishing a joint First Nations–industry–government working group to guide rapid implementation and launch pilot projects early in 2026.

“Every British Columbian wants to see concrete action to reduce wildfire risk before next summer, “added Nemeth. “The solutions are ready. Let’s get moving.”

The recommendations are supported by analysis completed by Silvacom Ltd., with participation from the Pulp & Paper Coalition, Foresight Canada, the BC First Nations Forestry Council, MJ Rensing Consulting, and technical input from the Ministry of orests, the Ministry of Energy and Low Carbon Solutions, and Natural Resources Canada.

Media contact:

Gary Ley — 604-787-5467 | gary@glpa.ca