A biochar initiative in British Columbia’s Kootenay region is receiving approximately $182,000 in provincial funding to transform forestry waste into value-added products while supporting local jobs, agriculture and emissions reduction.
The funding, provided through the Province’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), will support Wildsight’s Fire for Healthy Soils project in Creston. The pilot initiative aims to convert wood waste and wildfire fuels into biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic matter in a low-oxygen environment.
The project brings together Wildsight, the Creston Community Forest and the Regional District of Central Kootenay to test a business model based on low-cost kiln technology. Rather than burning residual wood in slash piles, the partners will convert the material into biochar for use in agriculture, forestry, composting, landscaping and other applications.
Biochar is increasingly recognized for its ability to improve soil quality, enhance water retention and store carbon. Project partners hope local demonstrations will encourage broader adoption of the material and create new economic opportunities tied to biochar production and kiln rentals.
Provincial officials say the initiative could provide a practical model for other rural communities seeking to reduce emissions while creating new revenue streams from forestry residues.
The project will also provide training opportunities through the Youth Climate Corps, helping young people develop skills in climate-related and natural-resource sectors while supporting job creation and workforce retention in the region.
“Projects like Fire for Healthy Soils are helping our communities find innovative ways to reduce emissions, make better use of wood waste and support our local economy,” said Brittny Anderson, MLA for Kootenay Central.
Since 2022, British Columbia has invested more than $156 million through REDIP, supporting hundreds of projects designed to strengthen economic resilience and diversification in rural and Indigenous communities across the province.
