South Okanagan Conservation Fund

About the fund

The South Okanagan Similkameen is biologically, a unique area of Canada. The RDOS has the second highest number of species at risk of any other Regional District in BC as well as the highest proportion of sensitive ecosystems.

Natural lands in both rural and urban areas filter our water, supply open spaces for wildlife and people, and provide quality of life to communities.  Unfortunately, these systems are under stress. The current generation must take action now to ensure a healthy physical environment for future generations.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide local financial support for projects that will contribute to the conservation of our valuable natural areas; one step towards restoring and preserving a healthy environment. The intent is to provide funding for conservation projects that are not the existing responsibility of the federal, provincial or local governments.

A Technical Advisory Committee with appointed members provides expertise in the review and recommendation of projects and recipients of funds, and RDOS has contracted administrative management support for the Fund.

The RDOS is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Fund and retains the responsibility for approval of all matters related thereto, including projects, payments, and financial audits of the Fund. All aspects of the Fund are guided by a Terms of Reference.

Visit the South Okanagan Conservation Fund website to learn more about the Fund, and the projects supported by this program: www.soconservationfund.ca

2023 Applications are closed

History

In December 2016, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), with public assent, adopted Bylaw #2690 to establish an Environmental Conservation Service for the Electoral Areas "A", "C", "D", "E", "F", and "I", the City of Penticton, District of Summerland, and the Town of Oliver (collectively referred to as “the participating areas”).

The Environmental Conservation Service is also known as the “South Okanagan Conservation Fund” or “the Fund”.

Under this Bylaw, the annual maximum amount to be requisitioned for the cost of the service was not to exceed the greater of $450,000 or $0.0292 per thousand dollars of net taxable value of land and improvements in the Regional District.

These funds are in support of undertaking and administering activities, projects, and works that include, but are not limited to, water, environment, wildlife, land and habitat conservation efforts to protect natural areas within the participating areas of the Regional District.