Can Indigenous Fire Stewardship produce carbon credits? A feasibility study

Over the past decade, wildfires in British Columbia have caused major disturbances, economic costs, and a significant impact on global emissions. The current fire prevention approach aims to avoid fires, however there is a growing realization that more proactive measures are necessary. Across Canada’s interior, the absence of fire and unusually hot and dry weather have been the principal drivers of more frequent and intense wildfires. Controlled burning in the early spring and late fall, are rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices, to reduce fuel buildup and mitigate summer wildfires. Revitalizing these practices, to mitigate wildfire, is critical. This project seeks to develop an Indigenous fire management program, to mitigate wildfire risk and to reduce carbon emissions from these wildfires. Developing the rules and guidelines to support these activities and generate carbon credits would be the first of its kind in Canada and making the project auto-sufficient financially.

Faculty Supervisor:

William Nikolakis

Student:

Partner:

3GreenTree Ecosystem Services LTD.

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: