Members of the Kootenay Conservation Program met with other conservation groups in Kelowna to discuss the loss of habitat connectivity in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
Representatives from different organizations met for a forum in Kelowna at the University of BC’s Okanagan campus.
“We explored wildlife crossings and corridors, and it brought together a variety of perspectives from Indigenous communities, government agencies, scientists, and conservationists,” said Juliet Craig, Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) strategic priorities director.
“This was to discuss, share knowledge and develop solutions for wildlife crossings and connectivity in the region.”
Roads, cities, and resource industries can sever habitat connections for wildlife, leading to a loss of habitat and putting humans and animals at risk.
“In the East Kootenay, there is a lot of wildlife mortality along Highway 3, and things like the new wildlife overpass structure along Highway 93 are so important to reduce highway collisions,” said Craig.
“This helps promote the safety of humans as well as wildlife.”
Craig says wildlife crossing infrastructure can also play a role in repairing fractured habitats.
“Allowing collectivity and building wildlife crossings over highways and other linear structures like railways allows for things like interbreeding of animal populations, wildlife movement, seasonal migration and other things wildlife needs to survive and thrive in our region,” said Craig.
Craig says close working relationships between organizations are key to making progress in major conservation projects.
“Many og these issues need to be worked on collaboratively, you need a lot of perspectives and diverse knowledge at the table to work together,” said Craig.
“That was one of the main themes at this forum: who needs to be at the table to help solve these issues, and what perspectives we can bring together to work collaboratively.”
Craig hopes the forum results in more progress on wildlife overpasses, underpasses and culverts as organizations commit to working together to share knowledge, perspectives and skills.
Thompson-Nicola Conservation Collaborative officials say nearly 3,000 crashes involving wildlife are reported along Southern Interior highways each year.
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