Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd. (CCR) is working to restore forest health near Palmer Lake, in the Cariboo Chilcotin, following the devastating 2017 wildfires. The area faces two main challenges: heavy fuel loads of dead pine trees and extremely dense natural regeneration, with tens of thousands of seedlings per hectare competing for resources.
CCR is thinning these overcrowded stands and removing hazardous dead trees using specialized machinery. This careful approach reduces wildfire risk and allows for efficient recovery of burned wood fibre. The harvested burnt material is sorted and sent to facilities that produce bioenergy pellets and pulp products, turning fire-killed trees into valuable resources.
Supported by Natural Resources Canada, the project is also creating economic opportunities and fostering Indigenous-led stewardship. The Palmer Project aims to build a forest that is healthier, more resilient, and better able to support wildlife and traditional land uses by First Nations communities.
By combining science, technology, and cultural knowledge, CCR is helping the forest—and the communities that depend on it—recover and thrive.
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