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“In the Okanagan, southern Vancouver Island and
the lower mainland, where our most endangered ecosystems are located,
a large percentage of critical habitat is on private land [Sandborn]”.
Within these ecosystems, agriculture, forestry, and urbanization are
placing many wildlife species at risk.
Within the Georgia Basin, only about 0.5% of the
original mature Douglas-fir forest remains (and is Red-Listed) and of
this, only about 0.06% of the original forest has been protected (Cousens,
1998). “The land around the Strait of Georgia is one of the hottest
real estate markets in Canada. The number of people living around the
Strait is expected to double over the next two decades. And with this
increase in population comes pollution and habitat loss. In the past
10 years, about 30 hectares of rural land has been converted to
housing for every 1000 people settled here (Butler)”.
In the Okanagan there are many sensitive and
endangered ecosystems. The Central Okanagan has only 0.06% remaining
of its old forest ecosystem and of the mature conifer woodlands and
forests ecosystems few are high quality and most are altered due to
selective logging and fire exclusion. In the South Okanagan
coniferous forests, only small areas of Douglas-fir, western larch,
and old growth Ponderosa pine are available (Environment Canada).
Many species in the Okanagan are dependant on wildlife tree habitats
including the White-headed woodpecker and the Western Screech-Owl
macfarlanei subspecies which are designated as endangered by COSEWIC
and SARA. In addition, the Lewis’ Woodpecker is COSEWIC and SARA
rated as a species of special concern.
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Coming EVENTS...
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR GET-TOGTHER
VANCOUVER ISLAND
We're planning a get together for volunteer
coordinators on Vancouver Island. If you'd like to attend, contact
Ian at
wits.bc@shaw.ca
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