Pilot Project Program

The Fuel Treatment Pilot Project Program was developed to assist communities in exploring fuel management treatment alternatives and demonstrating or showcasing these alternatives for the community.

The program is funded by the Ministry of Forests and Range and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities. It was designed to allow communities to test methodologies prior to implementing larger scale operations, and to increase public awareness of fuel management.

In developing a CWPP, forest professionals should be aware of and actively looking for potential Pilot projects for the Local government. These may be first suggested or recommended to the Local Government within the CWPP. Pilot Projects are generally developed after a CWPP has been completed, but in some cases may be run concurrently with a developing CWPP.

Proposals for Pilot Projects should consider their main functions:

1. To showcase or demonstrate fuel Management techniques to the public.
2. To explore the economic viability of a treatment.
3. To test new methodologies and pieces of equipment that may advance fuel management.

Pilot projects may explore standard or commonly accepted treatments within a forest fuel complex or may look at new or alternative treatments for an ecosystem. Regardless of the treatment to be undertaken, the proposal should show and describe the pre-treatment stand and outline the proposed treatment to be carried out. It is expected that a post-treatment report will be submitted that documents details of the treatment process, the post-treatment stand and recommendations for maintenance of the site.