OISO

Warmer temperatures and an increase in the number of Growing Degree Days doesn’t just improve production potential for crops, it opens the door to greater pressure from invasive species. Ensuring early detection of invasive species and the use of appropriate and effective management strategies are extremely important in preventing the spread of any new species in the Okanagan region.

A cooperative and coordinated approach to invasive species detection and management – involving organizations and individuals across the entire Okanagan and Similkameen valley – has been identified as the most promising approach to minimizing damages to the agriculture sector. Previously, the Okanagan-Similkameen did not have a valley-wide system to share information pertaining to invasive species and as a result, producers (and the public) had difficulty accessing the information that they required to identify and manage invasive species. The Okanagan Invasive Species Online website consolidates Okanagan invasive species information into one convenient and easy to navigate website that is focused on the needs of the agricultural sector.

Project Sponsors

The Okanagan Invasive Species Online website is a collaborative project between the Regional District North Okanagan, Regional District Central Okanagan, Regional District Okanagan Similkameen and the Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS). Funding for this project has been provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. This project was identified as an adaptation priority for the Okanagan agricultural sector through the Regional Adaptation Enhancement Program delivered by the BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative also funded under Growing Forward 2.