Grasslands Ecosystem Restoration

In early 2012 trees were removed from 190 hectares of land on Bald Mountain, west
of Williams Lake, to halt forest encroachment on grassland habitat. FBC is secretariat
to a multi-party committee seeking to restore traditional grasslands for biodiversity
and forage production.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Ecosystems Restoration Steering Committee is working to identify and restore critical grasslands in the region. FBC offers support as secretariat.

Covering less than one percent of BC, native grasslands are home to the highest diversity of at-risk plant and animal species. A 2007 report found that forest encroachment on arid grasslands and open range in the Cariboo-Chilcotin had become prevalent because of intentional suppression and management of natural wildfires for public safety. As trees spread and their density increases, they reduce the abundance and diversity of understory grass species.

The Ecosystems Restoration Steering Committee is made up of representatives of three Provincial Ministries (Forests, Range and Natural Resource Operations, Agriculture and Environment); three First Nations groups (Tsilhqot’in, Carrier Chilcotin and Northern Shuswap); four cattlemen’s groups (Cariboo-Chilcotin, Clinton, Quesnel and South Cariboo); and three non-profits (Grasslands Conservation Council of BC, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society and BC Wildlife Federation).

The Steering Committee is focusing attention on those lands that are suitable for treatment, highly important for biodiversity and useful for forage production/grazing. Treatments include prescribed burning and mechanical thinning of trees.

Learn More

For more information, contact:

Cariboo-Chilcotin Ecosystem Restoration Steering Committee
, Regional Manager, Fraser Basin Council (Secretariat)