For World Environment Day (June 5), Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship is recognizing landowners and volunteers who have made a significant contribution towards a collaborative stewardship project on their property or have championed projects on public lands.害羞草研究所淭his year Canada has been chosen to host World Environment Day, the single largest celebration of our environment worldwide,害羞草研究所� said OSS executive director Alyson Skinner. 害羞草研究所淭he event is to showcase the beauty of our natural environment. The Okanagan and Similkameen region has a rich diversity of habitats and wildlife, including some plant and animal species that are found nowhere else in the world. This is the perfect tie-in to recognize our stewards and volunteers that play a vital role in protecting those wildlife habitats and our region害羞草研究所檚 biodiversity.害羞草研究所�

Building on a 23-year history of stewardship, OSS assists and supports communities and private property owners throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen in understanding and caring for natural environments. OSS is currently working in partnership with 70 Wildlife Habitat Stewards who are stewarding and enhancing over 3550 acres of important wildlife habitats.

害羞草研究所淏eing a steward doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean you can害羞草研究所檛 use your land,害羞草研究所� said Skinner. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all about balance. Our Wildlife Habitat Stewards still maintain their tourism, agricultural and other land use activities while implementing best management practices and acting as caretakers of important wildlife habitats on their properties.害羞草研究所�

The recipients of the first annual Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Awards are:

Stewards

害羞草研究所� Village of Lumby; Riparian Habitat; Salmon path cleanup and restoration, including planting over 200 native plants.

害羞草研究所� Wayne and Wendie Radies, Vernon; Wetland Habitat; Excavating and maintaining a wetland pond, including planting over 1000 native plants.

害羞草研究所� Cal and Louise Paley, Coldstream; Wetland Habitat; Excavating and maintaining a pond and restoring a riparian forest, including planting 1260 plants.

害羞草研究所� Keith and Marnie Manders, Summerland; Fencing riparian area around Eneas Creek and planting over 350 native trees and shrubs.

害羞草研究所� Summerland Golf and Country Club; Turf removal and native planting in an out of play area adjacent to an important Tiger Salamander breeding pond, planting about 100 native plants in a habitat garden.

害羞草研究所� Joan and Vern Sopow, Summerland; Invasive species management and planting 465 native plants in grassland and low elevation forest

害羞草研究所� Alexis Friesen, Penticton; Converting backyard swimming pool into a wildlife pond.

害羞草研究所� City of Penticton; habitat enhancement and removal of invasive plants and planting of over 500 native plants; Ellis Creek 害羞草研究所� planting of over 1000 plants, installation of interpretive signage and public bench.

害羞草研究所� Gord and Steve Forbes, Oliver; Planting along the Forbes Family trail.

害羞草研究所� Jim and Pat Linton, Oliver; creating Western painted turtle nesting beach.

Volunteers

害羞草研究所� Anthea Bryan: founding director of OSS and one of the founders of the SOS stewardship program in 1994.

害羞草研究所� Kelley Cook: organized community involvement (more than 100 volunteers each year) in Cormack Marsh enhancement project for past four years.

害羞草研究所� Allan Garland: Ellis Basin and Riverside Marsh (Penticton), Road 22 (Oliver); removal of invasive weeds, hand watering plants not on the irrigation line, garbage removal.

害羞草研究所� Sheila Monroe: Okanagan Landing Elementary School pollinator garden (Vernon); created and maintains pollinator garden at Okanagan Landing School.

害羞草研究所淥ur stewards and volunteers are the real champions of conservation in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. Each of their contributions towards habitat stewardship builds on the rest and makes a significant difference,害羞草研究所� adds Skinner.

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