Beetle Bucks Announced
Beetle Bucks Announced
20 August 2008
published by www.cftktv.com
Canada — The federal government has announced another $10.8 million to help First Nations in B.C. deal with the pine beetle epidemic.
The new money will go toward continued efforts to reduce the risk from wildfire to communities surrounded by dead and dying trees.
That includes the removal of hazardous timber and debris to help protect people and property on reserves and adjacent crown lands.
First Nations leaders have been pressing Ottawa for months for more money to deal with the dangers posed by beetle-killed trees.
Their concerns include the need for evacuation plans for more than 100 reserves that could be threatened by wildfires.
The government says today’s funding is in addition to $5-million spent to help First Nations deal with the infestation on reserve lands since 2004.
