Home  News SKAHA BLUFFS LAND IS PURCHASED!
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SKAHA BLUFFS LAND IS PURCHASED! |
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From the press release Jan 19th, 2008 PENTICTON – The B.C. government, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) and the
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) through the NCC-Government of Canada Natural Areas
Conservation Program have partnered with Mountain Equipment Co-op and other supporters
to acquire a 304-hectare property adjacent to the popular Skaha Bluffs recreational rock
climbing area.
The newly acquired land falls within the proposed Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park recommended in
the Okanagan Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan and will be managed for its
important conservation and recreation values as a Class A provincial park. The property is
made up of coniferous forest, riparian areas, rugged terrain and some shrub-steppe grasslands.
This habitat helps support up to 15 species-at-risk, including California bighorn sheep.
“This purchase was made possible through the co-operation of many partners and their
unwavering dedication to seeing the project through,” said B.C. Environment Minister Barry
Penner. “I had a chance to hike through the property and see the Skaha Bluffs first-hand last
summer and, with the encouragement of MLA Barisoff, enthusiastically authorized the provincial
financial contribution to secure public access to great recreational opportunities and protect a
special part of the Okanagan.”
The Nature Conservancy of Canada participated in this project thanks to support from the
Government of Canada through the Natural Areas Conservation Program, a new matching funds
initiative to conserve ecologically significant lands across southern Canada over the next five years.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to be able to play an important part in this land
acquisition through the Natural Areas Conservation Program,” said the Honourable Stockwell
Day, Minister of Public Safety and MP for Okanagan-Coquihalla, on behalf of the Honourable
John Baird, Minister of the Environment. “Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed $225 million
to support the work of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and here is another example of real
results for Canadians. Protecting the important lands near the legendary Skaha Bluffs is a great
example of what we can achieve when we work together to preserve our natural heritage.”
The acquisition of the property marks the successful culmination of an ambitious fundraising
campaign to raise the $5.25 million necessary to purchase the land. To reach this goal, B.C.’s
Ministry of Environment provided $1.25 million, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, with support
from the Government of Canada, provided $2.3 million and The Land Conservancy raised $1.7 million.
TLC’s executive director, Bill Turner, was the lead negotiator on the acquisition. TLC’s partners
in fundraising included: Mountain Equipment Co-op and its members; the Habitat Conservation
Trust Fund; the BC Trust for Public Lands; the B.C. Ministry of Transportation’s Environmental
Enhancement Fund ($200,000); the Nature Trust of British Columbia; and an eco-gift from the
vendor under Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program.
For complete details, download the media release (requires account) or see the TLC web. |
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