Call for proposals: air quality & forest residues

Dec. 6, 2010, Vancouver – British Columbia-based proponents are
invited to submit proposals for innovative projects that will improve air
quality in communities where open burning of forest residues currently occurs.
This initiative is administered by FPInnovations through its Woody Debris
Management Program funded through the BC Air Action Plan in conjunction with
the British Columbia Ministry of Natural Resource Operations. Project proposals
are requested that address the following topics:

• Operational planning and implementation of
  alternative disposal methods for woody debris;
• Burning techniques, new technologies,
  and/or smoke management practices and initiatives to minimize air quality
  emissions from open burning; and
• Improving the use and management of woody
  debris.

The Woody Debris Management Program
encourages the development of new approaches, techniques, and technologies to
manage woody debris from logging or land development that result in
improvements in air quality. A total of $275,000 in funding is available to be
shared between projects selected for this fiscal year.

Lyle Gawalko, manager, fire management,
Ministry of Natural Resource Operations believes the creation of this
cost-shared funding approach allows government and industry to explore new and
environmentally responsible methods for the disposal of woody debris in British
Columbia. “The goal is to both improve air quality around communities and
generate new employment opportunities and businesses wherever feasible,” he
says.

Industry also fully supports this
initiative and is committed to assist in the identification of the best
proposals. “We are particularly interested in the development of alternate uses
for the harvest residuals that are normally burned and that recognize the
inherent costs in bringing the fibre to a central location for utilization.
Where it is not feasible for alternate uses, we need effective strategies that
will allow burning to occur without disrupting community air sheds. And we need
to know where burning can occur,” says Gord Gunson, woodlands manager, Pacific
Inland Resources.

Submissions for funding under the grant
will be open to any British Columbia forest company, individual, academic
institution, local government body, and/or business. This may include British
Columbia-based service providers for the forest sector. Projects submitted are
expected to leverage other sources of funding and to collaborate with B.C.
forest companies, government ministries, and/or communities. Submissions in
electronic or hard copy must be delivered to FPInnovations by January 7, 2011.

More information regarding the Call for
Proposals and an application form can be obtained on FPInnovations’ website
(www.fpinnovations.ca) or at fire.feric.ca.