Links to Other Conservation Sites

Over the years, the GCC has relied on a wide web of people and organizations to work towards conservation, sustainable use and good stewardship practices in the grasslands of British Columbia. This work has been made easier with the help of others - whether the contribution be research materials, ground-breaking programs or positive partnerships.

The websites have been divided into the following categories:

Conservation/Land Use
Education
Government
Invasive Plants
Ranching/Agriculture
Recreation
Restoration
Species at Risk
Wildlife

Conservation/ Land Use

BC Conservation Corps	www.bcconservationcorps.ca	The British Columbia Conservation Corps (BCCC) is a new program that provides work opportunities for students and recent graduates who may be considering a career in the environmental sector.
BC Conservation Foundation	www.bccf.com	A registered not-for-profit dedicated to the conservation of BC's ecosystems and species.
Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture (CIJV)	www.cijv.ca	The CIJV is a partnership organization working for the long-term benefit of the wildlife and people living in the Canadian Intermountain region.
Canadian Nature Federation	www.cnf.ca	Nature Canada is a member-based non-profit conservation organization created to protect nature, its diversity, and the processes that sustain it.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)	www.cpaws.org	With a network of 13 chapters, 20,000 members, over 50 staff and hundreds of committed volunteers, since 1963 CPAWS has helped to conserve over 400,000 square kilometers of Canada's most treasured wild places in parks and other protected areas
Columbia Basin Trust	www.cbt.org	CBT is a crown corporation that promotes social, economic and environmental well being in the Basin by delivering benefits to residents through a variety of programs
East Kootenay Conservation Program (EKCP)	www.ekcp.ca	The East Kootenay Conservation Program (EKCP) is a collection of forty one groups and agencies in the East Kootenay that have joined together to develop and implement a strategy to promote habitat and ecosystem management for private land that complements management of Crown land in the region.
Federation of BC Naturalists	www.naturalists.bc.ca	The Federation of BC Naturalist Clubs represents 49 clubs with a total of more than 5,300 members across the province. It has been organizing education and conservation projects since it was founded in 1979.
Forest Research and Extension Partnership (FOREX)	www.forrex.org	FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership (FORREX) is a British Columbia, Canada-based charitable non-share corporation, founded in 1998 to help people develop science and knowledge-based solutions to complex natural resource challenges.
Fraser Basin Council	www.fraserbasin.bc.ca	The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a unique organization that is focused on advancing sustainability throughout the entire Fraser River Basin.
The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC)	www.conservancy.bc.ca	Usually known as TLC, The Land Conservancy is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia.
Kamloops Naturalists Club	www.kamloopsnaturalist.ca	A group of individuals with an interest in natural history formed the Kamloops Naturalist Club in 1971. The club schedules field tours, provides public information and works towards conservation goals.
Kamloops South Thompson Community Atlas	http://research.tru.ca/ kstcmp/atlas.html	The Kamloops-South Thompson Sustainable Community Atlas supports social, economic and environmental decision making in the City of Kamloops, Kamloops Indian Reserve, and a portion of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District by agencies, businesses, and individuals
The National Park Feasibility Study	http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/np-pn/cnpn-cnnp/os-os/index_e.asp	In October 2003, Parks Canada began examining the feasibility of establishing a national park reserve in the South Okanagan grassland region.
The Nature Conservancy	www.nature.org	The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people.
The Nature Trust of BC	www.naturetrust.bc.ca	The Nature Trust of British Columbia is the oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization headquartered in BC. Our mandate is to protect BC’s natural diversity of wildlife and plants and their critical habitat through the acquisition and management of ecologically significant land.
Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP)	www.bcgrasslands.org/occp.htm	The Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP) is a new initiative that was started in response to the rapid growth and development of the North and Central Okanagan. The OCCP began in May 2006, with many partners coming together to help shape the future of this portion of the Okanagan Valley.
Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society	www.trenchsociety.com	The Trench Society is a coalition of citizen groups working together to restore the grasslands and open forest of BC's southern Rocky Mountain Trench.
South Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP)	www.soscp.org	The South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program was founded in 2000 by various groups concerned with the special environment and habitat of the South Okanagan-Similkameen area. The SOSCP is a partnership of non-governmental, government and First Nations organizations working together to conserve biodiversity.

Education

Royal BC Museum

http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca

This exploration of the grasslands of BC is an educational and exciting tour of our precious grassland landscapes.

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Government

Ministry of Agriculture	www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.php	This ministry provides information, research, technology, policies and programs for security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth.
Ministry of Environment	www.env.gov.bc.ca/esd	This ministry's mission is to maintain and restore the natural diversity of provincial ecosystems and fish and wildlife species and their habitat; and to provide park, fish and wildlife recreation services and opportunities to British Columbians and visitors.
Ministry of Forests and Range	www.gov.bc.ca	This ministry aims to build a strong and diverse forest sector through revitalization, while maintaining high environmental standards, will help ensure long-term jobs and economic benefits.
Parks Canada	www.pc.gc.ca	This program protects and presents nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations.
Union of British Columbian Municipalities (UBCM)	www.civicnet.bc.ca	The UBCM was formed to provide a common voice for local government. It provides an opportunity for local governments of all sizes and from all areas of the province to come together, share their experiences and take a united position.

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Invasive Plants

Invasive Plant Council www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca The Fraser Basin Council led the development of the Invasive Plant Council which works to implement the Invasive Plant Strategy, adocument that outlines an action plan to address the exponential increase in invasive plant population throughout the province.

Weeds BC www.weedsbc.ca Weeds BC can help you identify your weeds, learn how to manage them and find out what can happen if you don't. This site profiles 80 weeds that are currently present in the province or pose a threat to its economy and environment.

South Okanagan-Similkameen Committee on Invasive Plants (SOSCIP) www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=248 The Okanagan-Similkameen Invasive Plant Program was officially established in 1996 to address the serious environmental, economic and management problems that invasive plants pose in rangelands and natural habitats in the south Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

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Ranching/Agriculture

BC Agriculture Council www.bcac.bc.ca Founded in 1997, the BCAC Agriculture Council (BCAC) provides leadership in representing, promoting, and advocating the collective interests of all agricultural producers in the Province of BC.

Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund (BCIDF) www.cattlefund.net/bcidf.htm The BCIDF was developed to manage the Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund in a way that will effectively enhance the profitability, viability, sustainability of the beef cattle industry in British Columbia for the short, medium and long term.

Behavioural Education for Humans, Vegetation and Ecosystem Management www.behave.net BEHAVE is a research and outreach program aimed at understanding the principles that govern diet and habitat selection.

British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) www.bcia.org BCIA is the provincial organization authorized under the Agrologists Act, a British Columbia statute, to govern the professional conduct of its members, in support of the public interest.

Ministry of Agriculture www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.php This ministry provides information, research, technology, policies and programs for security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth.

Society for Range Management (SRM) http://www.rangelands.org/srm.shtml SRM is the professional society dedicated to supporting persons who work with rangelands and have a commitment to their sustainable use.

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Recreation

Off Road Vehicle Coalition (ORV) www.orvcoalitionbc.org A broad-based coalition of stakeholders was formed in 2002 to improve the management of off-road vehicles (ORVs) in British Columbia.

Outdoor Recreation Council www.orcbc.ca Through research and advocacy, ORC’s mission is to conserve and enhance outdoor settings and resources in British Columbia and secure public access to them for recreation.

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Restoration

Ministry of Forests: Forest Encroachment http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/ecoearth
/ordroad/Dryfor.htm Fire suppression, overgrazing, and selective logging in these forests are believed to have caused forest encroachment on grasslands and ingrowth within open forests. This section of the Ministry of Forests website explains the issues at hand.

Ministry of Forests: Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/
mountain_pine_beetle/actionplan/
2006/Beetle_Action_Plan.pdf The ministry has put together a strategic document to deal with the mountain pine beetle.

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Species at Risk

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/ The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies, varieties or other designatable units that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation

Conservation and Data Centre (CDC) http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cdc/
The British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (CDC) systematically collects and disseminates information on plants, animals and ecosystems (ecological communities) at risk in British Columbia.

Species at Risk Registry www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca A ranking and description of at-risk species from across Canada.

Species at Risk www.sararegistry.gc.ca_e_cfm Information about at-risk species.

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Wildlife Conservation

Canadian Wildlife Service	www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm	The CWS is Canada's national wildlife agency and it handles wildlife matters that are the responsibility of the federal government. This includes the protection and management of migratory birds and nationally important wildlife habitat, endangered species, research on nationally important wildlife issues, control of international trade in endangered species, and international treaties
Ducks Unlimited Canada	www.ducks.ca	Ducks Unlimited Canada—a national, private, non-profit organization—is Canada’s conservation company. DUC has been committed to wetland conservation for more than 65 years.
Habitat Conservation Trust Fund	www.hctf.ca	The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) was created in 1996 by an amendment to the Wildlife Act; the governance of the Trust Fund was updated with a further amendment to that Act in 2005. The HCTF is a proposal-driven organization.
World Wildlife Federation Canada (WWF)	www.wwf.ca	As the global conservation organization, WWF works to conserve species at risk, protect threatened habitats and address global threats.
Wild Sheep Society of BC	www.wildsheepsociety.org	A small group of wild sheep enthusiasts decided to have a meeting to discuss if an organization could be set up to assist the Ministry of Environment in producing better habitat for the sheep. An executive committee was formed and in March 1992 we received our Society status from the government in Victoria. The Wild Sheep Society was born.