Local taxpayers will be asked if they’re willing to pay a small annual tax or levy that will go directly towards a community conservation fund to ensure the building, sustainability and maintenance of ecological projects in and around Osoyoos.

Bryn White, the manager of the South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP) for the past nine years, made a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council Monday asking them to consider establishing a regional conservation fund in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.

A conservation fund would be a long-term source of funding held by a municipality or regional district for the specific purpose of undertaking ecological activities, said White.

The SOSCP is a partnership of 50 government and non-government organizations working together to conserve nature and biodiversity in the South Okanagan and Similkameen.

White told council they can establish their own conservation fund or opt to work with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).

She has already met with the RDOS board and said that board is very interested in establishing a fund and has discussed holding a referendum on the issue likely early next summer, said White.

Once the conservation fund is established, community groups and other organizations can apply for funding to support their projects, said White.

By setting a stringent and effective terms of reference, council can assure that all money raised for the conservation fund will be spent specifically on environmental and conservation projects and would not ever go back into general revenues, she said.

Money raised by the local fund can also be used to match outside funds to increase the power of the fund, she said.

Local governments would oversee the fund with guidance from an independent technical committee.

“Nature conservation can be considered a service just like planning, parks and recreation, libraries, water and sewer,” said White.

Numerous municipalities and regional districts across the province have established conservation funds, including the Central Kootenay, Capital Regional District, Upper Columbia Valley and Central Okanagan Regional District.

The fees charged range from $15 per parcel to $26.50 per parcel. The fees are charged once a year as part of property taxes, she said.

It’s important to establish a conservation fund in this area because the South Okanagan and Similkameen valleys are one of the most at risk areas in all of B.C., with natural areas and dozens of wildlife species that are rare and endangered, she said.

The fund would also allow community leaders to devise a strategy to guide nature conservation and help ensure local development and land management is environmentally sensitive across the region, she said.

White said establishing a conservation fund would help protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat; protect community watersheds, ensuring water quality and quantity; protect important natural areas from fire, weeds and off-road vehicles; encourage volunteer nature conservation activities on public and private land; protect natural spaces for hiking, walking and wildlife viewing; and support environmental education and awareness.

What type of projects would be tackled will vary from region to region depending on conservation goals and priorities, she said.

The criteria and evaluation process should be established and specified in detailed terms of reference, she said.

“Regional goals and priorities can be determined through public opinion polling or may have already been identified through an official community plan or sustainability planning process,” she said.

Some of the areas other municipalities have spent funding include watershed and drinking water protection projects, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, parkland acquisition, protection of endangered species projects and trails network development.

The SOSCP would be more than willing to work with municipal leaders to assist with aspects of fund management, said White.

Money raised in a conservation fund can be carried over from one fiscal year to the next and programs typically have a lifespan of 10 years, she said.

“After 10 years, elected representatives may choose to continue to fund by passing a resolution or seek public confirmation for an extension through public opinion polling or referendum,” she said.

White said she has met numerous stakeholders, including business leaders, seniors groups and citizens at large, and no one she has met is opposed to establishing a conservation fund in the South Okanagan and Similkameen.

“People care deeply about the future of their community … and they care about their quality of life,” she said. “No one I’ve met is opposed to this idea.”

White said she would be meeting with councils in Summerland, Penticton, Oliver and Keremeos in the near future to discuss their interest in establishing their own conservation funds.

Coun. Carol Younberg said she’s confident local citizens will be strongly in favour of paying an extra small fee of between $10 and $20 to make this conservation fund a reality.

“I think it’s a great plan,” she said.

The goal will be to establish a regional conservation fund by the end of 2016 and then finalize terms of reference and start spending the money of community conservation projects by early 2017, said White.

Council voted unanimously in favour of bringing the issue of establishing a community conservation fund to upcoming budget talks for 2016.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times