posted Jan 2, 2019 | closing Jan 25, 2019
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Request for Proposals: Okanagan Wildfire Pre-Season Communications & Information Exchange Pilot Project
photo courtesy BC Ministry of Transportation
The Southern Interior Stockmen’s Association (SISA) is seeking proposals for a contractor to work with local producer associations, the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) and other local partners to develop and pilot a wildfire communications protocol to guide communications between the Regional District and their agricultural residents during the wildfire season.
The successful proponent will be required to plan and host a series of information exchange meetings (8 total) to strengthen relationships between agricultural groups and wildfire response agencies that will support a shift to collaborative and proactive wildfire communication. These information exchanges will be used to provide clear, accurate and agriculturally focused information to producers about wildfire risk and wildfire response processes/procedures and to develop and implement a wildfire communications protocol for RDOS.
This project includes:
- Development of materials to support pre-season and post-season communication meetings
- Development and implementation of a wildfire communications protocol customized for the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (developed with input from stakeholders and agricultural producers)
- Development and implementation of an outreach strategy (to invite representatives from key agricultural organizations [within RDOS] to meeting)
- Planning and hosting of pre-season information exchange meetings (4 meetings: 2 locations each year) and post-season communication debrief meetings (4 meetings: 2 locations each year)
- Development of a shareable resource(s) (e.g., bulletin and/or other resources to highlight key information) to circulate broadly to all producers in RDOS
- Preparation of a Summary report (including sample resources that can be used by other Regional Districts to develop their own wildfire communications protocol)
This project fulfills a priority action of the Okangan Adaptation Strategies and will enhance the ability of producers in the Okanagan to adapt to the impacts of climate change. All work will be overseen by a committee that includes representatives from SISA, the BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Committee (CAI), RDOS, the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.
The successful contractor will have a minimum of 3 years experience with wildfire issues, and at least one team member will have extensive experience with supporting collaboration, workshop/process design and small group facilitation. At least one team member with experience developing and implementing strategies and processes to improve communication flows.
The contract runs from February 2019 to November 2020.
View the PDF: Request for Proposals – Okanagan Wildfire Pre-Season Communications & Information Exchange Pilot Project (closes Jan 25, 2019)
posted Dec 26, 2018
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January 2019 Workshops to Develop Agricultural Adaptation Strategies for Kootenay & Boundary
photo by Flickr user Jasperdo
Agriculture producers are invited to join us in PART 2 of a workshop series to develop the Kootenay & Boundary Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies.
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Develop an action strategy for addressing climate impacts.
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Share your knowledge and experience.
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Build on the results of the December 2018 workshops.
Together we will be exploring how the agricultural sector can adapt to climate change: variable weather and changing shoulder seasons; increasing wildfire risk, spring flooding, insect, weed, pest and invasive species pressure; and drier summer conditions and drought. Up to $300,000 in seed funding will support collaborative local agricultural adaptation projects following completion of the strategies.
Please RSVP to one workshop:
- in Cranbrook (1/2 day workshop)
Monday, January 28th, 9:00am to 12:00pm
- in Creston
Tuesday, January 29th, 9:00am to 2:30pm
- in Greenwood
Thursday, January 31st, 9:00am to 2:30pm
Doors open at 8:30am for both workshops. Morning coffee and baked goods will be provided at all workshops, and lunch will also be provided in Creston and Greenwood.
Attendance is free and attendees are required to register in advance. Workshop addresses will be provided upon registration.
To register or for more information, contact Harmony Bjarnason at Harmony@BCAgClimateAction.ca or 250-215-5589.
posted Dec 19, 2018 | closing Jan 14, 2019
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Request for Proposals: Farm-level Flood Mitigation, Preparedness & Recovery Toolkit
photo from iStock
The Fraser Valley Agricultural Adaptation Working Group is seeking proposals for a contractor to work with local producers, regional governments and industry groups to develop a series of fact sheets for farm-level flood mitigation, preparedness and recovery. The successful proponent will be required to review existing flood preparedness resources, identify content for fact sheets and develop the materials into a toolkit for producers.
This project includes:
- Reviewing existing flood mitigation, preparedness and recovery resources for agriculture;
- Defining topic areas for fact sheet content and accompanying checklists; and
- Hosting a focus group series to review material drafts with agricultural producers.
This project fulfills a priority action of the Fraser Valley Adaptation Strategies and will enhance the ability of producers in British Columbia – with a particular focus in the Fraser Valley – to adapt to the impacts of climate change. All work will be overseen by a committee that includes representatives from the BC Dairy Association, BC Poultry Association, BC Blueberry Council, Fraser Valley Regional District and its member municipalities and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.
The successful contractor will have a minimum of three years experience with extreme events and/or emergency preparedness, planning and mitigation issue with preference for flooding and agriculture and at least one team member will have experience working with the Fraser Valley agriculture sector.
View the PDF: Request for Proposals – Farm-level Flood Mitigation, Preparedness & Recovery Toolkit (closes Jan 14, 2019)