Abe Litz

Central Interior BC, South Coast BC

Community Forest, Consultant, First Nation - Forest Management Corporation/Company, First Nation Timber Licensee, Major Licensee, Private Land Manager, Woodlot Licensee

Forest Harvest - Planning, Planning and Management - Site Level (Site Plans), Planning and Management - Watershed Level, Brushing, Commercial thinning, Fuel management, Monitoring, Planting, Pruning, Restoration, Spacing, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Climate change resilience, Cultural plants, Cultural values, Ecosystem health, Old growth attributes, Timber, Visuals, Wildfire Risk, Wildlife

Abe is an operational planning forester with 25years of experience in forest management consulting on the south coast and central interior regions of the province. This experience includes prescription development and operational oversight for a wide range of forest management activities, including site plans, silviculture, stand tending, harvesting and restoration plans. Working with major licensees, First Nations, community forests and woodlot clients Abe has focused on multiple resource values and innovative prescription development to reflect local values and objectives for forest management. Most recently he has focused on development of both site and landscape level wildfire risk reduction, while promoting or enhancing the range of forest and social values present.

Alana Clason

Central Interior BC

Contractor, Non-Government Organization (NGO), Research - Organization

Research, Monitoring, Models, Restoration, Variable retention, Biomass, Carbon, Climate change resilience, Old growth attributes, Wildfire Risk

Andrea Norris

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, North Coast BC, South Coast BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Research - Government

Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Prescribed or Cultural Fire, Research, N/A, Carbon, Climate change resilience, Cultural values, Ecosystem health, Forest health, Old growth attributes, Wildlife

Cam Brown

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, North Coast BC, South Coast BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories, Western USA

Consultant

Growth and Yield Analysis and Application, Inventory and Analysis, Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Commercial thinning, Models, Variable retention, Biomass, Carbon, Economic, Timber

Erik Leslie

Southern Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Community Forest, Consultant

Planning and Management - Site Level (Site Plans), Small Scale Forest Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Commercial thinning, Fuel management, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Carbon, Climate change resilience, Ecosystem health, Old growth attributes, Wildfire Risk, Wildfire

I work at the intersection of community forestry, wildfire resilience and applied climate adaptation.
I am responsible for all aspects of managing a community forest, including small business management, planning, operations, and silviculture. I specialize in partial cutting for wildfire and climate resilience, and I often use (variable) retention systems.

Garnet Mierau﹐ RPF

Southern Interior BC

Non-Government Organization (NGO)

Education, Training or Mentorship, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Fuel management, Visuals, Wildfire Risk, Wildfire

Gord Chipman

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, North Coast BC

Consultant, Non-Government Organization (NGO), Woodlot Licensee

Forest Harvest - Operations Management and Oversight, Small Scale Forest Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Commercial thinning, Cultural fire, Fuel management, Monitoring, Planting, Prescribed fire, Pruning, Restoration, Spacing, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Biomass, Cultural plants, Cultural values, Economic, Ecosystem health, Forest health, Old growth attributes, Timber, Wildfire Risk, Wildfire

I am a Forester with over 3 decades of experience in Forestry and land management. I am a strong advocate for area based forest operations and maintenance. I am very familiar with the natural processes in the IDF, SBS, SBPS, ESSF, and ICH ecosystems. The last two decades most of my experience is within NDT 3 and 4. The Forests within the Central Interior has been the main area of operations. I am Executive Director of Woodlots BC.

Jodi Axelson

Southern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, South Coast BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories, Western USA

Research - Government, Research - Academic Institution

Growth and Yield Analysis and Application, Research, Stand Tending, Commercial thinning, Fuel management, Monitoring, Spacing, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Climate change resilience, Ecosystem health, Forest health, Old growth attributes, Timber, Wildfire Risk

Dendrochronology, adaptive management, resilience, drought

Kari Stuart-Smith

Southern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Major Licensee

Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Policy Development, Research, Variable retention, Climate change resilience, Ecosystem health, Old growth attributes, Wildfire Risk, Wildlife

I have devoted my career to working collaboratively with others to develop innovative forest management strategies and best management practices directed at conserving habitat for wildlife, identifying and managing for high quality old growth stands, and to increasing the resilience and resistance of forest stands to wildfire. My approach centers on the use of evidence-based results to inform effective policy and practices, in consideration of the cultural, social, and economic factors involved, in order to create positive habitat and ecosystem outcomes and practical, cost-effective strategies for forestry.

Kathie Swift

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Non-Government Organization (NGO)

Education, Training or Mentorship, Reforestation, Site Preparation, Brushing, Fertilizing, Planting, Climate change resilience, Cultural plants, Forest health

Synthesizing information into formats that are easy to understand

Ken Byrne

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, North Coast BC, South Coast BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Consultant, Professional Association, Research Forest, Research - Academic Institution, Research - Independent

Education, Training or Mentorship, Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Planning and Management - Site Level (Site Plans), Commercial thinning, Fuel management, Models, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Climate change resilience, Old growth attributes, Timber, Wildfire Risk

Strong focus on natural disturbance modelling and implementing strategies to address challenges to ecosystem resilience including climate change and increasing demands for forest values and products

Ken Day

Southern Interior BC

Consultant

Forest Harvest - Planning, Small Scale Forest Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Commercial thinning, Fuel management, Restoration, Variable retention, Variable Density Thinning, Biomass, Ecosystem health, Forest health, Timber, Wildfire Risk, Wildlife

I managed the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest for 31 years. I have experience in planning and implementing a wide range of silvicultural systems in the SBSdw and ICHmk. I have studied and worked in the IDF for most of my career, particularly in uneven-aged management for mule deer habitat objectives and wildfire risk reduction.

Ken Zielke

Southern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Central Coast BC, North Coast BC, South Coast BC, Western USA

Consultant

Education, Training or Mentorship, Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Planning and Management - Site Level (Site Plans), Commercial thinning, Monitoring, Variable retention, Climate change resilience, Ecosystem health, Timber

Silvicultural Systems, partial-cut harvesting generally, windthrow management, snow and ice damage

Kevin Bollefer

Southern Interior BC

Community Forest, Major Licensee

Forest Harvest - Planning, Forest Harvest - Operations Management and Oversight, Planning and Management - Site Level (Site Plans), Commercial thinning, Variable retention, Ecosystem health, Forest health, Old growth attributes, Timber, Wildlife

I've been working in the interior wetbelt for 28 years with an interest in ecosystem management and how to mimic natural disturbances through efficient and economical harvesting techniques.

Kira Hoffman

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Coast BC, Western USA

Research - Academic Institution, Research - Organization

Education, Training or Mentorship, Research, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Cultural fire, Fuel management, Prescribed fire, Cultural plants, Old growth attributes, Wildfire Risk

Klay Tindall

South Coast BC

First Nation - Forest Management Corporation/Company, First Nation Timber Licensee

Education, Training or Mentorship, Small Scale Forest Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Variable retention, N/A

I do not really consider myself an expert at anything, but I have been fortunate to spend my career working alongside others to build opportunities through forestry. My current focus is supporting the Líl̓wat Nation in developing their forestry department, with the goal of creating a balanced program that delivers on several fronts: reducing wildfire hazards, increasing cultural values, generating profits, and providing good jobs in the community. It is challenging and deeply rewarding work that connects land stewardship with economic development and cultural renewal.

I serve as the General Manager of Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures (LFV), a Nation-owned enterprise that the Líl̓wat people established to strengthen self-determination through forestry. Since 2012, I have been responsible for leading operations across five Líl̓wat Nation forest tenures. On an annual basis, LFV manages the harvest of about 110,000 cubic metres of timber. Our team ranges from 25 to 50 employees, depending on the season, and the business provides not only direct employment but also ongoing training and mentorship. The intent is to create more than just jobs—we want to build skills that stay in the community and open up long-term opportunities for Nation members in forestry and related industries.

LFV is designed to balance three key objectives: environmental responsibility, cultural stewardship, and economic sustainability. For example, in addition to carrying out timber harvesting, our operations are structured to reduce wildfire hazards, which have become an increasing concern across British Columbia. We also work closely with Líl̓wat elders and cultural leaders to ensure that forestry activities respect traditional values and protect areas of cultural significance. This work includes removing timber to increase cultural and ecological values. Examples are managing long term spotted owl habitat to have better attributes while being more fire resilient and cultural burning to both reduce wildfire risk and increase culturally signiant plants. At the same time, we seek to operate as a profitable business that contributes to the Nation’s economy and supports community priorities.

Lisa Wood

Northern Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Research - Academic Institution

Education, Training or Mentorship, Research, Stand Tending, Brushing, Planting, Restoration, Climate change resilience, Cultural plants, Ecosystem health

Mike Crone

Southern Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Community Forest, Contractor, Consultant, Woodlot Licensee

Forest Harvest - Planning, Planning and Management - Watershed Level, Small Scale Forest Management, Climate change resilience, Economic, Forest health, Old growth attributes, Timber, Visuals

Peter Flett

Southern Interior BC

Community Forest, Consultant, First Nation Office, First Nation - Forest Management Corporation/Company, First Nation Timber Licensee, Private Land Manager

Forest Harvest - Operations Management and Oversight, Small Scale Forest Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Fuel management, Planting, Restoration, Variable retention, Cultural plants, Cultural values, Economic, Wildfire Risk, Wildlife

Randy Spyksma

Southern Interior BC, Northern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, Other Canadian Provinces/Territories

Community Forest, Consultant

Planning and Management - Landscape Level (FLP, HLP), Planning and Management - Watershed Level, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Fuel management, Restoration, Variable retention, Climate change resilience, Forest health, Hydrology, Timber, Visuals, Wildfire Risk

I am a strategic forest management planner and facilitator, bringing together individuals and groups that may have varying perspectives to come up with innovative plans and processes to respond to forest land challenges. I also manage the Logan Lake Community Forests and support community forests and community forestry across BC at a governance, strategic planning and management planning level.

Tara Bergeson

Southern Interior BC, Central Interior BC, South Coast BC

Regulator/Certification Body

Policy Development, Reforestation, Wildfire Risk Reduction, Brushing, Fuel management, Planting, Pruning, Restoration, Variable Density Thinning, Climate change resilience, Ecosystem health, Wildfire Risk

I have worked extensively in reforestation and silviculture, stand management, ecosystem restoration (post wildfire and MPB), urban forestry, and wildland fire risk reduction & resiliency. I have a sound understanding of prescribed fire, site level planning and management, and research, but these are secondary to the listed areas of expertise.