Write Wild - Okanagan-Similkameen National Park

Some points to consider:

• The South Okanagan-Similkameen landscape is one of the most endangered landscapes in all of Canada.
• The mosaic of habitats found in this semi-arid mountain-to-valley landscape supports over 250 species at risk. In fact, one third of BC's endangered species live here, including birds, mammals, reptiles and plants such as the tiny flammulated owl, Lyall's mariposa lily and the Great Basin spadefoot frog, found nowhere else in Canada.
• The Okanagan Similkameen is a bird watchers' paradise. Over 300 species of birds have been found in this region of Canada including tiny flammulated owls, belted kingfishers, Williamson's sapsuckers, yellow-breasted chats and grasshopper sparrows. People come from across the world to see one of the richest diversity of birdlife in North America.
• This is Canada's only desert ecosystem where cacti, canyon wrens, sage thrashers and scorpions can be found. As a desert ecosystem it is one of the highest priorities for conservation in Canada.
• Unchecked development has already enveloped much of the Okanagan Valley to the north around Penticton and Kelowna, and now this rapid growth is reaching the South Okanagan-Similkameen. This fragile and unique ecosystem, that local people and Canadians love so much, will be no more in the future - unless we protect some of it now.
• The proposed national park would provide a big economic boost to the South Okanagan-Similkameen region (in the first ten years the park would generate: 800+ full time jobs; $70 million in investments; $120 million in expenditures, and $40 million in tax revenues).
• There is concern that the federal government may leave Vaseux and White Lake out of the national park. This would be a terrible mistake as they are some of the most biologically rich areas in the entire proposal.