Applications being accepted for first South Okanagan Conservation Fund projects

PENTICTON – The Regional District’s new conservation fund will begin taking applications tomorrow.

The South Okanagan Conservation Fund was established last year to provide local financial support for environmental projects that will contribute to the conservation of the South Okanagan’s natural areas.

The applications for conservation projects that reduce threats to the valley’s biodiversity are being accepted starting tomorrow, Sept. 1, and the application period closed on Sept. 29, according to the fund's website.

The intent of the fund is to provide money over and above what is available through existing federal, provincial and local programs. Priority will be given to projects demonstrating sound and effective technical consideration, in addition to providing value for money through partnerships with other funders.

Applications are open to not-for-profit organizations, or organizations paired up with qualifying partners, the website states. Projects may have a maximum term of three years, but proponents must apply for each year’s funding. A technical review committee will assess all application and make recommendations for regional district board approval.

Final approval from the Regional District board takes place in December with successful applicants notified in January, 2018.

For more details, see the conservation fund application website.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.