Sqomish Forestry plays a vital role in planning and overseeing the sustainable stewardship of all Squamish Nation forestry licences, which together cover nearly one-third of the Nation’s traditional territory.

The largest of these is Tree Forest Licence (TFL) 38, a 177,380-hectare area in the Squamish Valley. Safeguarding the long-term health and wellbeing of this forest is a shared priority for Nch’ḵay̓, the Squamish Nation, and Sqomish Forestry.

This past summer, Squamish Nation Land Guardians—part of Ta na wa Yúus ta Stitúyntsam̓ (Rights & Title)—joined B.C.’s Wildfire Prevention Ambassador Program and provincial Natural Resource Officers to host a nine-day information kiosk at the entrance to the Upper Squamish Valley Forest Service Road. Together, they shared key messages about campfire bans, safe use of open fire, how to report illegal activities, safe travel, and respectful forest use.

Our Sqomish Forestry team also completed their Basic Fire Suppression and Safety training, and worked with expert consultants to survey parts of the Elaho Valley that have previously been scorched by wildfire. With provincial funding support, the team is ensuring that seedlings planted after these fires are healthy and will grow into a new forest.

This past season, Sqomish Forestry staff and Nation Guardians increased their patrols throughout TFL 38 as well, reporting concerns to the RCMP or provincial Natural Resource Officers as needed. The Conservation Officer Service remained on standby to support environmental compliance, enforcement, shared stewardship, and public safety.

Provincial teams continue to work closely with Nation staff to address ongoing security challenges such as illegal campfires, shooting, dumping, and poaching.

Together, these efforts strengthen the protection of Squamish forests, and we look forward to another season of promoting wildfire prevention, safe recreation, and responsible forest use next year.