Keeping Nature in Our Future

A Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the South Okanagan Similkameen

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the complex web of interaction that sustains life on this planet. The connections between plants, animals, their homes and the natural processes around us are all part of biodiversity.

Why is biodiversity important?

A healthy natural environment is fundamental to our health and our future. The natural world around us is part of the character of our communities and the quality of life here in the Okanagan and Similkameen. Nature filers our water, cleans our air, and helps pollinate our crops. Nature is basic to our economy and is the foundation of our farms and ranches, vineyards and tourism industries. This is what makes the Okanagan a desirable place to live and attractive to new visitors, residents and businesses.

Healthy natural areas keep our options open when we are faced with climate change and a growing population. We want to invest in “keeping nature in our future” by protecting what we have now as a legacy for our children.

Biodiversity in the Okanagan Similkameen

British Columbia is an exceptional place, known for its spectacular landscapes and wildlife. Of all the provinces, BC is home to the richest array of living things from mosses to mammals. In “Taking Nature’s Pulse: the status of biodiversity in British Columbia” http://www.biodiversitybc.org the Okanagan Similkameen is highlighted as a unique region of Canada, recognized provincially and nationally as a biodiversity hot-spot and for the richness and rarity of species and habitats.

Why is a biodiversity Strategy needed here?

Accelerating urban and rural development has put a great deal of pressure on our region. Ecosystems that were rare to start with, such as grasslands and marshes, are being lost forever.

Keeping Nature in Our Future

…is a plan, now actively underway, to identify and protect important natural areas and wildlife corridors needed to connect these habitats. It will look at the South Okanagan and Similkameen area as a whole and will help determine regional priorities for protecting valuable natural areas.

Creating the road map for conservation

The SOSCP and a number of conservation and government partners, including the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and Ministry of Environment, have initiated the strategy and raised funds to develop policies and tools to complete the plan. Benefits of the plan include:

  • Protecting natural assets such as: clean air and water, healthy soils, wildlife diversity, green spaces and scenic beauty
  • Assisting local governments with environmental decision making, and achieving local government sustainability objectives
  • Assistance with meeting Climate Change Action Charter targets
  • Providing science-based information to help determine conservation priorities
  • Supporting green development and innovation
  • Promoting community, business, and industry participation and partnerships in stewardship and sustainability

What is included in the Plan?

COMING SOON

Keeping Nature in our Future will have several components

  1. A vision document to outline opportunities for all levels of government, industry and the public for creating and maintaining a healthy environment for the region.
  2. A natural areas assessment: including maps outlining the natural and modified habitats within the region, identifying areas of biodiversity richness that would benefit from protection, and proposing wildlife and habitat corridors.
  3. Recommended policies and tools: including short-term objectives, long-term goals and regional performance measures for protecting the region’s natural areas, including:
  • Examples of land use planning tools to incorporate into community plans, zoning, and development permit areas
  • Recommendations for voluntary stewardship including tax incentives
  • Recommendations for local agency and government partnerships to achieve regional habitat goals
 
 

© 2010 South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Project

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