NEAR OLIVER — Interest remains high for protecting unique ecosystems in the south Okanagan.
The province has received feedback to its latest proposals for three protected areas between Okanagan Falls and the American border.
Over 81 days, the B.C. government received 3,470 submissions. The province says the single biggest concern from respondents was ensuring the protected areas be connected. Many respondents also suggested even more areas be preserved, including lands around Vaseux Lake and the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area.
National Park supporter Doreen Olson says it isn’t a surprise there’s so much interest in protecting the environment in the south Okanagan.
“(Yesterday) on a tour of the south Okanagan grasslands, 40 per cent of the people weren’t from here. So we can see there is interest from other people in what we have here,” she said.
A large number of respondents also commented the need to account for activities such as hunting, fishing and other recreational use.
Life-long rancher David Casorso said a national park would wipe out his livelihood.
“The National Park Act says there’s no domestic grazing of livestock. So the bottom line is we’ll be out of business — period,” said Coroso.
The B.C. government says it will engage further with First Nations before making a decision later this year.