When some people cast their eyes to the hills surrounding Vernon they see opportunities for growth and development but Patrick Allen sees unique grasslands that need to be protected from the bulldozer’s wheels.Allen along with several local environmental groups is attempting to form the Okanagan Collaborative Conserv
ation Program, to persuade local governments to protect sensitive environments. He said the program will draw environmental groups to apply for grants and lobby for environmental change as a unit rather than compete with each other.“The general goal is a shared, collaborative approach to conservation issues in the Okanagan,” he said. “The idea is to take an approach that is more efficient.”The Sustainable Environment Network, North Okanagan Naturalists Club and North Okanagan Natural Areas Land Trust are among several partners, including local governments, that have participated in the formation of the program. A statement of goals is expected to be complete early next year.Although the program has not yet been officially launched, Allen said that the City of Vernon has been a great help already by approving access to their mapping data for free.The City of Vernon has also set aside $7.5 million for natural areas and parks acquisitions, Allen said. The conservation program will map out areas throughout the south and central Okanagan to help local governments and other environmental groups identify important areas that need to be protected.The Okanagan is famous across Canada for its grasslands and Allen said that residents have a duty to preserve that environmental heritage for all Canadians to enjoy. He said that the Commonage and other grassland covered hills around Vernon and Coldstream are at the greatest risk of being lost.“There are large areas of undeveloped grasslands here in the North Okanagan,” he said. “We do have a stewardship responsibility in the greater picture to care for what we have.”Once sites of ecological significance are identified, Allen said it will be up to cities to protect those areas in the Official Community Plan (OCP). He said the different groups involved in the conservation program will bring their information to upcoming public OCP meetings.Allen said that one needs only to look at hillsides of Vernon to know that this program was needed yesterday not tomorrow. But he said that if the municipalities and other community partners work together they can do a better job of preserving what is left.“We’re still a young region, the changes only to started to happen in the last few years,” he said. “It’s not like we’re very behind on it – but we do need to start now.”
ation Program, to persuade local governments to protect sensitive environments. He said the program will draw environmental groups to apply for grants and lobby for environmental change as a unit rather than compete with each other.“The general goal is a shared, collaborative approach to conservation issues in the Okanagan,” he said. “The idea is to take an approach that is more efficient.”The Sustainable Environment Network, North Okanagan Naturalists Club and North Okanagan Natural Areas Land Trust are among several partners, including local governments, that have participated in the formation of the program. A statement of goals is expected to be complete early next year.Although the program has not yet been officially launched, Allen said that the City of Vernon has been a great help already by approving access to their mapping data for free.The City of Vernon has also set aside $7.5 million for natural areas and parks acquisitions, Allen said. The conservation program will map out areas throughout the south and central Okanagan to help local governments and other environmental groups identify important areas that need to be protected.The Okanagan is famous across Canada for its grasslands and Allen said that residents have a duty to preserve that environmental heritage for all Canadians to enjoy. He said that the Commonage and other grassland covered hills around Vernon and Coldstream are at the greatest risk of being lost.“There are large areas of undeveloped grasslands here in the North Okanagan,” he said. “We do have a stewardship responsibility in the greater picture to care for what we have.”Once sites of ecological significance are identified, Allen said it will be up to cities to protect those areas in the Official Community Plan (OCP). He said the different groups involved in the conservation program will bring their information to upcoming public OCP meetings.Allen said that one needs only to look at hillsides of Vernon to know that this program was needed yesterday not tomorrow. But he said that if the municipalities and other community partners work together they can do a better job of preserving what is left.“We’re still a young region, the changes only to started to happen in the last few years,” he said. “It’s not like we’re very behind on it – but we do need to start now.”
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