161 acres added to South Okanagan conservation area

An additional 161 acres (65 ha) has been added to a conservation area in the South Okanagan following the purchase of one of the last remaining private properties in the White Lake Basin.

The Nature Trust of BC, a non-profit land conservation organization, says the new parcel will be added to the existing 8,222 hectares of conserved lands, located south of Penticton.

“Large scale nature conservation is a strong tool to ensure biodiversity can flourish undisturbed while also helping to mitigate against climate change,” says Jasper Lament, CEO of the Nature Trust.

A crowdfunding campaign was launched earlier this year to raise the last $20,000 needed to purchase the property, which is known as Park Rill Creek Infill West.

The property, and larger conservation areas, is home to natural grasslands that support several threatened or vulnerable plant and animal species.

The organization adds that the grasslands also act as large carbon sinks due to the deep root systems.

According to a news release, 95% of the property contains ecosystems and rare and diverse species in need of protection.

A number of endangered birds have been tracked in the property including the Lewis’s woodpecker, barn swallow, flammulated owl, and grasshopper sparrow.

Many federally listed animals can also be found in the area, including the pallid bat, American badger, western tiger salamander and great basin gophersnake.

“Acquisition of this conservation area will also facilitate a viable domestic cattle ranching operation, while being able to protect the most vulnerable ecosystems from disturbance,” explains a news release.

Over the past 26 years, the Nature Trust of BC has acquired 13 parcels of private land in the White Lake Basin Biodiversity Ranch in an effort to protect sensitive grasslands and ecosystems.

The purchase was also supported by the Government of Canada and several private donors.

Thumbnail photo credit: Contributed