An energy consultant raising funds for the Nature Conservancy of Canada made a stop in Kelowna on his bike ride across Western Canada.

He said his goal for the 1,400-kilometre trip is to show people how important it is to take care of our natural ecosystems, especially as climate change continues to take a toll on wildlife, forests and wetlands.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been here for a couple hundred years now and that害羞草研究所檚 left a bit of an impact on the natural flora and fauna,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲hile that in itself is a bit of a challenge, it害羞草研究所檚 going to be particularly problematic as the impacts of climate change intensify. We need to make sure that the health of our forests, wetlands and prairies are in the best shape they can be to make sure that we can withstand the droughts, floods and forest fires we害羞草研究所檙e experiencing now and will continue to experience.害羞草研究所�

Simakov said he used to come to the Okanagan on road trips with his family when he was younger, saying he remembered seeing stars clearly throughout the summer.

Now, with wildfires raging and smoke blanketing the valley, he couldn害羞草研究所檛 see the stars that made an impression on him as a boy.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been particularly difficult害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 harder to breathe and it stings your eyes, so I have to wear my glasses for every moment I害羞草研究所檓 riding or they blur up,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淵ou also pass these burned-out charred landscapes and it tugs at you in a way that hearing the news or seeing videos doesn害羞草研究所檛. I also expected to see more wildlife害羞草研究所� but I haven害羞草研究所檛 seen much beyond a deer and a few crows. Some of these ecosystems have lost their vitality and I just think we need to take proactive, prudent measures now to start reversing this and restore the vitality.害羞草研究所�

He said he has also had a chance to connect with people throughout his ride, sharing with them what he has seen firsthand with wildfire-ravaged areas but he has also had a chance to learn more about what is being done by non-profits like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve and restore wildlands.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really hoping to apply these firsthand experiences of what I害羞草研究所檝e seen on the ground here to better inform myself, my colleagues and my industry to make sure we害羞草研究所檙e more cognizant of the impact we can have, both negatively and positively,害羞草研究所� he said.

To donate to Simakov害羞草研究所檚 Nature Conservancy fundraiser, you can do so .

READ MORE: In 2021, wildfires in B.C. have burned more land than all of P.E.I.

READ MORE: White Rock Lake wildfire orders ease but concern could rise along with the temperature

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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