Funding for Salmon Arm-based Forsite Consultants Ltd., announced in September by the federal government, means the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, south of Okanagan Falls, has been the focus of ecosystem restoration.

“I’m pleased to announce our government’s support for Forsite Consultants Ltd.,” stated Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes in a Sept. 30 press release.

“Investments such as this are creating and protecting jobs, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity.”

Although the news release says the $182,351 in funding will assist Forsite Consultants restore ecosystem function with the Salmon Arm area, the funds, which were received in the spring, have actually been used in conjunction with the Lower Similkameen Indian Band working in BC Parks’ White Lake Grasslands Protected Area near Okanagan Falls.

The funds also help support administrative services and an ecosystems biologist out of Salmon Arm.

Four displaced forestry workers are being retained via the program, helping protect the grassland that supports wildlife.

Glenn Thiem, funding program co-ordinator for Forsite, said the work includes debris collection in preparation for burning, restoration activities related to thinning of the current forest stand, pruning of tree branches and retention of trees used by wildlife.

The Job Opportunities Program is a federal/provincial program. Forsite’s funding was made up of $118,528 from the federal government and $63,823 from the province.

Forsite, with its head office in Salmon Arm, provides forest land management services throughout B.C. It has offices in Campbell River, Prince George, Terrace, Smithers, Kamloops, Lillooet, Golden and Cranbrook.

When at its peak, the company employed about 140 people out of its 10 offices, but that number has dropped as the forestry market has declined.