The North Okanagan Conservation Fund is a dedicated source of funding for the specific purpose of undertaking environmental conservation projects. This Fund will help communities ensure the sustainability of our environment and protect our quality of life now and for the future. The 2021/2022 Fund will provide over $80,000 to eligible conservation projects.
Natural lands in both rural and urban areas filter our water, supply open spaces for wildlife and people, and provide assets that improve the quality of life to communities.
Unfortunately, these natural systems are under stress. The current generation must act now to ensure a healthy physical environment for future generations. The purpose of the Fund is to provide local financial support for projects that will contribute to the conservation of our valuable natural areas and help restore and protect a healthy environment. The intent is to provide funding for conservation projects that are not the existing responsibility of the federal, provincial or local governments.
Proposals will be accepted from the organization that will hold title and manage the property, but the RDNO recognizes that sometimes multiple organizations are involved at different stages of an acquisition project - for example, a local community group might coordinate the acquisition for a property but a larger land trust will ultimately hold title. If the organization submitting the proposal will not be the one holding title or managing the property, it must include information on both the applicant organization and the intended title holder and/or manager.
Eligible Expenditures are as follows:
- Direct Acquisition Costs – such as Purchase Price
- Appraisal Fees
- Taxes
- Legal Fees
Acquisition project applications may be submitted at any time during the year provided there is sufficient time for the Technical Advisory Committee and the RDNO to review the proposals. All securement proposals will be treated as confidential unless other specific arrangements have been approved by all parties.
North Okanagan Conservation Fund Service Establishment Bylaw
Read the North Okanagan Climate Projections Report.
Read the North Okanagan Conservation Fund Terms of Reference to confirm your eligibility.
Download the Land Acquisition Project Budget Form
Contact
Scott Boswell, Program Manager, OCCP at occp123@gmail.com