Wildfire mitigation efforts also boost sheep habitat

PENTICTON – A collaborative effort between the regional district and the Penticton Indian Band is working to reduce fire behaviour potential in timber stands near Penticton.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the band are supported with funding from the Wild Sheep Society of B.C. and the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. who are supplying a grant for prescription development.

Additional funding is also being provided by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development's Ecosystems Restoration Program.

The work to reduce wildfire risk and enhance wildlife habitat is taking place in forest cover below the Carmi Forest Service Road. The treatments involve reducing the density of timer stands by logging or prescribed burning.

The slopes being treated are also critical to the winter range of Bighorn Sheep. The more open conditions and burning being conducted will promote an underlying layer of vegetation to grow, which is critical for winter range.

“Treatment operations are an important part of the wildfire reduction program, which is attempting to alleviate the interface wildfire risk to our communities,” regional district Chair Karla Kozakevich said in a press release.

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