Nature Trust of BC is one of several organizations that are helping to preserve habitat in the South Okangan - Similkameen.
“We have been active in the Okanagan since 1983, “said Carl MacNaughton, Conservation Land Manager for the Nature Trust of British Columbia. “We worked hard through the ‘90’s to preserve land around Vaseaux Lake,”
MacNaughton said that Nature Trust’s land purchases were all made for conservation purposes.
As a non-advocacy group, Nature Trust does not have a posititon regarding the national park proposal for the area.
“We see human use of the land as an acceptable activity,” MacNaughton said, noting that grazing, hunting and fishing is allowed on the Trust’s properties.
“It makes sense to us in small communities to support local industry,” he said, noting that Nature Trust worked in partnership with local ranchers like the Cliftons in Keremeos and the Culligans from Okanagan Falls. Nature Trust also has strong ties to local sportsman’s associations.
“We see partnering as a key to our success,” MacNaughton concluded, noting that Nature Trust has acquired 3,000 hectares of land in the South Okanagan, not including the recent purchase of the 2,000 acre Twin Lakes ranch property.
Nature Trust has properties in the Vaseaux Lake area, the east side of Skaha Lake, Okanagan Falls, Cawston and Kilpoola Lake.