Wildlife habitat in the Okanagan is better protected today following new additions to the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area.

Today's announcement by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson adds several parcels of land totalling about 514 hectares to the existing South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area. The additions will more than double the size of the wildlife management area to 903 hectares.

The lands in question represent riparian and upland habitat for important wildlife including several species at risk, such as the Behr's hairstreak butterfly and the Lewis' woodpecker.

The South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area was established in 1994, and this is its first expansion since that time. The existing wildlife management area and additions are not contiguous but consist of a series of ecologically important land parcels integrally tied to the Okanagan River and which conserve important habitat. The parcels stretch from Oliver in the north to the Inlet of Osoyoos Lake in the south.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations works to maintain and restore the province's ecological diversity of fish and wildlife species and their habitats. One way the ministry meets these goals is through the management of the province's various types of conservation lands, including the establishment of wildlife management areas under Section 4 of the Wildlife Act. This designation gives the ministry additional tools to manage the land and associated land uses.

Quotes:

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -

"Wildlife management areas help protect critical wildlife habitat. Our government will continue to seek new opportunities like this one to establish or expand valuable conservation areas."

Barb Pryce, Southern Interior program manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada -

"The Nature Conservancy of Canada applauds the expansion of the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area. These new parcels enhance all conservation efforts in this nationally important landscape. The habitat types now being included in the WMA are critical to sustaining biodiversity in the South Okanagan area."

Quick Facts:

• South Okanagan is the third wildlife management area to be expanded this year. Previous expansions occurred near Parksville and Kamloops.

• Three new wildlife management areas were established in 2013, near Penticton, Valemount and Port Hardy respectively.

• There are now 28 wildlife management areas in B.C. ranging in size from the 17-hectare Coquitlam River wildlife management area to the 122,500-hectare Todagin wildlife management area in northwestern B.C.

• More than 244,000 hectares in the province are now designated as wildlife management areas.

• Several partners assist the Province with the background work required to recommend sites for designation including Ducks Unlimited Canada, The Nature Trust of BC, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation also contributes funding to help with designations and for day-to-day management of the sites after they are designated.

Learn More:

For a high-resolution map showing the additions to the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area, visit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/8617214062/in/photostream

For other information about Wildlife Management Areas in British Columbia, visit:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/habitat/conservation-lands/docs/wma_qa_032013.pdf

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261