Wyse joins Nature Trust

Photo: Contributed

The name of Jim Wyse's winery may give a clue as to his thoughts on the environment.

So it may not come as a surprise to learn Wyse is the newest member of the Nature Trust of British Columbia's board of directors. 

Wyse is the founder of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver. He sits on the board of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C. and is a past board member of the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls. 

One of the first projects he is working on with the Nature Trust is acquiring rare antelope-brush habitat in the South Okanagan.

Located at the south end of Vaseux Lake, between Okanagan Falls and Oliver, the 34.6-hectare (85-acre) property is home to more than 20 species at risk. Most notably, this land supports more than half the Canadian population of the Behr's hairstreak butterfly. 

Bighorn sheep, pallid bat, desert night snake, Great Basin spadefoot and Lewis's woodpecker are among other species at risk that are known to occur on these lands. 

Securing of the property will ensure protection of important wildlife habitat and connectivity with other conservation areas for many species, providing greater opportunity for species to adjust to climate change.

The Nature Trust has divided the property into 10 equal portions. Its goal is to complete acquisition of three portions early in 2015. With the commitment of a partial donation by the landowners, along with committed funds from other agencies, the trust needs to raise $280,000 by March 31.