Local conservationist Jim Wyse was recently named to the board of directors of the Nature Trust of British Columbia. The Nature Trust tries to protect endangered habitat through land acquisitions. (Photo supplied)
Local conservationist Jim Wyse was recently named to the board of directors of the Nature Trust of British Columbia, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered habitat.
Wyse, who is the founder and board chair of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, has long been active in environmental and conservation issues, but this is his first direct involvement with the Nature Trust.
Wyse said he joined because the organization asked him to and previously it had no board members from the Okanagan Valley. The board currently has 12 members from around the province.
The Nature Trust is a non-profit land conservation organization based in B.C. that aims to acquire ecologically significant land through purchase, donation, covenant and lease.
The Nature Trust is currently working to acquire some rare antelope-brush habitat at the south end of Vaseux Lake between Okanagan Falls and Oliver.
This acquisition, along with the Nature Trust’s adjoining property, is home to more than 20 species at risk.
Robin Rivers, communications manager with the Nature Trust, said Wyse was recruited in part with this project in mind, but also for his general expertise about the Okanagan.
Board members are involved in making decisions about properties the Nature Trust is acquiring as well as making financial decisions, Rivers said.
Wyse said he was previously in a similar role for a year with TLC, The Land Conservancy, which went into receivership in 2013.
He worked successfully to rescue SORCO (the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls), the raptor recovery centre near Oliver, from the receivership process.
Prior to entering the wine business, Wyse was the proprietor of a mid-sized real estate development company in the Lower Mainland of B.C., Whistler, Denver and Oklahoma City.
He earned a civil engineering BASc (CL) at University of Toronto and an MBA at University of Western Ontario.
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a 40,000 case a year premium wine producer based between Oliver and Osoyoos.
In order to acquire the 85-acre (34.6 hectare) property at Vaseux Lake, the Nature Trust is hoping to raise $280,000 by March 31.
Rivers said she is confident the money can be raised, adding that a number of organizations, groups and individuals have made pledges.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
