Thank you very much for the question. We do appreciate it. In my earlier enthusiasm to stay within the time limits, I did neglect to share a couple parts of our presentation.
In terms of the real successes, each of the three coalitions has substantially presented a series of strategies that we believe reflect the thinking of the people in each of those regions and what they see as the opportunities to maintain some degree of resiliency economically and to create some diversification.
As an example in our particular area--I hope to leave some time for Rhona to add from her area as well--clearly the mountain pine beetle has lent itself to advancing considerations of bioenergy in terms of an energy source for a world that's looking for greater energy opportunity. We're just strapped in terms of our financial ability to stimulate and motivate activity down that line.
We need to better understand how we're going to do it in terms of the future. I'm trying to give Rhona a heads-up here in terms of successes in the future. We are challenged on the natural resource front. We're optimistic people, by and large, in rural and remote Canada, but risks for flooding during certain times of the year are considerable issues for us. Drought is also showing up as a considerable issue for us. As well, climate change, which is a part of where the beetle has played out from, is an issue.
One of the things of considerable concern to small communities across the country, and certainly in the pine beetle areas, is the negative effect on drinking water. Those forests hold the water. We're optimistic and we think we can do some work there, but we need some help. Wildlife habitat has been significantly challenged. We think we can make some changes with some help.
The impact on traditional aboriginal livelihoods has been significant. I can quote from a number of the first nations communities where this has really, really set them back.
But we've also experienced a significant increase in fire risk. We have a strategy to help manage some of that fire risk. We just don't have the resources to do it. If you had travelled through British Columbia this summer, or even through western Canada, you would have appreciated and shared some of the smoke we all breathed. It is a big issue for us.
Rhona, I will pass it on to you.