Partnerships support herbaceous plants and shrubs restoration following Garrison Lakes wildfire from 2021

On June 16, staff from BC Timber Sales’ Kamloops Business Area, together with members of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and Lower Similkameen Indian Band, conducted a joint planting project to re-establish native plant species in an area affected by the 2021 Garrison Lakes wildfire.

The planting day provided an opportunity to build on existing partnerships while supporting the restoration of culturally significant native plant species to the land base. Participants worked together to plant huckleberry, soopolallie (soapberry), thimbleberry, lupine and black cottonwood, important cultural food and medicine sources for First Nations communities and a valued component of a local healthy forest ecosystem.

The project highlighted the importance of collaboration in forest recovery efforts. By bringing together Indigenous community members and BC Timber Sales staff on the land, participants shared knowledge, strengthened connections and contributed to the long-term recovery of the burned landscape.

This project builds on a broader partnership established through collaborative wildfire salvage planning and recovery efforts in the area following the Garrison Lakes wildfire. Through ongoing collaboration, BC Timber Sales, Gorman Group, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and Lower Similkameen Indian Band have worked together to support ecosystem recovery, incorporate First Nations perspectives and identify opportunities to restore forest values on the land base.

Restoring native vegetation following a wildfire helps support biodiversity, improve ecosystem resilience and return culturally important plant species to areas where they have historically grown. This planting project reflects a shared commitment to stewardship, sustainable forest management and supporting the values and priorities of local First Nations communities.

A video highlighting the planting day can be viewed here.

The planting day builds on the collaborative wildfire recovery efforts highlighted in this video showcasing wildfire salvage planning and ecosystem recovery work that took place following the Garrison Lakes wildfire.

This project demonstrates how ongoing partnerships can support both forest restoration and shared stewardship objectives across the land base.