Peter Flett Wins BC Forest Professional Magazine Award for Forest Recovery Insights in Response to Wildfire
- Nk'Mip Forestry
- Feb 13, 2024
- 2 min read
Osoyoos, B.C. – In an accolade that highlights his commitment to advancing the field of forestry, Peter Flett, RPF, head of forest operations with Nk’Mip Forestry and West Boundary Community Forest, has been awarded the BC Forest Professional Magazine (FPBC) Magazine Award for his outstanding contribution in the Spring 2023 edition. Flett's winning article, titled "Keys to Improving Forest Recovery Post-wildfire: The Critical Roles of Proper Planning, Implementation, and First Nations' Collaboration," has garnered recognition from a panel of esteemed peers serving on the Editorial Advisory Panel for the magazine.
“It's an honour to have the article recognized by FPBC, as there are countless other deserving articles in the magazine. Our forestry team at the Osoyoos Indian Band (Nk'Mip Forestry LLP) are fortunate to have the opportunity to highlight this wildfire restoration project and our collaboration process by outlining the steps taken to ensure we met the expectations of our community members,” said Flett, adding, “I am thankful for the help I received from Aleece Laird and her team at Amplify Consulting Inc. as well as the communications team at FPBC in getting our messages across to readers. In an era of consistent catastrophic wildfires across B.C., it's important that recovery responses to these fires are not rushed and forestry companies and staff take the extra time to work with their local Indigenous communities and discuss the numerous values impacted by salvage and restoration efforts.”
The award announcement expressed the panel's decision that his article stood out among the submissions received in 2023. The recognition highlights Flett's dedication to fostering sustainable practices in forestry and addressing the challenges posed by wildfires while sharing the knowledge he has gained working with OIB community members and his fellow forest professionals.
The award ceremony took place at the FPBC annual conference in Kelowna from February 7 to 9, 2024, where Flett accepted the award and reflected on the invaluable contributions from the OIB forestry team, community members, and support from the Chief and Council. This recognition not only celebrates the efforts that Nk’Mip Forestry took in response to the wildfire but also brings attention to the importance of the topics covered in his award-winning article.
Flett's article delves into several aspects of what should constitute collaborative forest management and talks about how the devastating natural disturbances such as the Nk’Mip Creek Wildfire and observing communities grappling with how to respond and recover serves as “an internal reminder that we are just one component of the environment yet can have such a significant impact.”
Flett's success serves as an inspiration to the forestry community, encouraging continued dedication to research, innovation and knowledge sharing in the pursuit of sustainable forest management practices. Congratulations to Peter Flett on this well-deserved honour.
The article can be found here: https://www.fpbc.ca/portfolio-items/spring-2023/
For an interview with Nk’Mip Forestry LLP, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison | aleece@amplifyinc.ca | 250.574.0221
About Nk’Mip Forestry
Established in 2014 by the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), Nk’Mip Forestry aligns forest management with sustainable economic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. As a fully OIB-owned and self-sustained company, Nk’Mip Forestry contributes significantly to the local economy. Committed to Okanagan cultural values, the company ensures the sustainable harvesting of licensed forestry areas, preserving ecological characteristics for future generations. For more information about OIB: http://oib.ca/
