Ophiuchus Consulting

• Main Authors: Mike Sarell, Allison Haney
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Canada; First Nations
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.621.5370; http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/documents/r1306/whr_4001_rpt_1107384880175_ee16f6eabfe640afb33f96450f92e4a8.pdf

The Okanagan Valley contains the northern-most extent of Great Basin shrub-steppe habitats. It is often transected by species-rich riparian and wetland habitats, and flanked by open forests and rugged slopes. The ensemble of wildlife that depends on habitats in the valley is diverse, containing species from the boreal forests to the north and the deserts to the south. Many of the southern-associated species are considered at risk in BC and in Canada, due to their rarity and declining populations in landscapes that are most sought for human development. In the North Okanagan, grasslands and shrub-steppe ecosystems dominate the lower elevations, and form the northern extent of these ecosystems in the valley. Extensive land development is fragmenting and encroaching on important wildlife habitats, contributing to wildlife and habitat declines. Local and provincial governments, First Nations, and local conservation groups recognize the need to incorporate sensitive ecosystem and wildlife habitat conservation in land use planning.