Conservation Resources
The following is a selection of conservation and stewardship resources available for our region listed in alphabetical order.
These resources are highlighted because they have been featured in the KCP eNews. This is not intended to be a comprehensive library of all conservation resources in the Kootenays. Please email us if you have any additional resources that you think should be on this list.
See below for resources organized by the following categories. For a list of KCP publications, visit KCP Resources.
- Stewardship
- Landscape & Habitat Conservation
- Species at Risk
- Indigenous Knowledge
- Climate Change
- Water
- Invasive Species
- Restoration
- Databases, Directories & Toolkits
- Technical
- Miscellaneous
STEWARDSHIP
A Field Manual to the Conservation, Restoration and Stewardship of Low Elevation Brushland (Gb), Grassland (Gg) and Dry Forest Ecosystems in the West Kootenay Region
Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) Section of the Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development
This field manual (Version 3.0) was developed to provide clear and concise best management practices for conserving and protecting the sensitive ecosystems of low elevation brushland (Gb), grassland (Gg) and dry forest ecosystems. These ecosystems are ecologically important, uncommon on the landscape, very sensitive to human disturbance and highly threatened due to their location in valley bottoms where human activity is concentrated. The sensitive ecosystems also have low resiliency to disturbance.
The manual summarizes best management practices for avoiding/minimizing disturbance on sensitive sites, rehabilitating, revegetating and restoring disturbed/impacted areas, and monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness and success of treatments. The area covered by this manual is the south and central parts of the West Kootenay Region that includes the Boundary area.
Prepared by Evan McKenzie Ecological Research and Thomas Hill Environmental, Nelson, BC (February 28, 2023).
Background Information Document for the Conservation, Restoration and Stewardship of Low Elevation Brushland (Gb), Grassland (Gg) and Dry Forest Ecosystems in the West Kootenay Region
Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) Section of the Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development
This background document describes the project objective, goals and project area and provides information related to guiding work activities in low elevation Gb, Gg and dry forest ecosystems. It was developed to supplement and support the field manual summarizing the best management practices. The background document provides additional information on the following topics:
- Target ecosystems in the West Kootenay Region
- Ecological and cultural importance of target ecosystems
- Threats and potential negative impacts to ecosystems
- Conservation and protection strategies and practices
- Site and Ecosystem Restoration
Prepared by Evan McKenzie Ecological Research and Thomas Hill Environmental, Nelson, BC (February 28, 2023).
A Field Guide to Ecosystem Classification and Identification: Boundary–Eastern Okanagan–Shuswap–
Southern Arrow
Province of British Columbia
This field guide presents site classification and identification information for ecosystems following the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system. It is part of a four-volume series for southeast British Columbia that updates the biogeoclimatic and site classification previously published for the former Nelson Forest Region (Braumandl and Curran 1992; Braumandl and Dykstra 2005) and for parts of the former Kamloops Forest Region (Lloyd et al. 1990).
A Field Guide to Ecosystem Classification and Identification: Southern Thompson-Okanagan (Interim draft)
Province of British Columbia
This field guide presents site classification and identification information for ecosystems of the southern Thompson–Okanagan following the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system. It is part of a three-volume series for the Thompson–Okanagan Region that updates much of the biogeoclimatic and site classification previously published for the former Kamloops Forest Region (Lloyd et al. 1990)
A Resource for Kootenay Lake Living
Regional District of Central Kootenay
Best practices to keep your lakeshore natural can protect your property from flooding since deep-rooted trees and roots absorb water and wave energy, reducing shoreline erosion. Native plants, trees, rocks and soil help filter rain and storm water runoff by trapping sediment and contaminants which protect water quality. Since all wildlife need a healthy and safe place to survive and thrive, keeping the lake shore natural preserves fish and wildlife habitat. Download “A Resource for Kootenay Lake Living” for more information.
Green Shores for Homes Guide
Stewardship Centre for BC
Green Shores for Homes (GSH) is a program that focuses on positive steps to reduce the impact of residential development on shoreline ecosystems, and helps waterfront homeowners restore natural shorelines and enjoy the many benefits they bring.
Off-Road Vehicle Guide to B.C.’s Grasslands
Grasslands Conservation Council of BC
The recreational and commercial use of off-road vehicles (ORV) continues to grow in British Columbia and there is an ongoing need to promote their safe, responsible use. The Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia (GCC) recently updated its guidelines for ORV use on grasslands and produced a summary in a pocket-sized brochure.
Stewardship Practices Guide
Stewardship Centre for BC
The Stewardship Centre for BC offers free resources to the stewardship community. These diverse and comprehensive documents are available for use on all ecological projects. The Stewardship Practices series is intended to encourage people to take voluntary stewardship actions to safeguard wildlife and species at risk.
LANDSCAPE & HABITAT CONSERVATION
Center for Large Landscape Conservation Resource Library
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation strategically connects ideas, individuals, and institutions to catalyze collaboration and amplify progress toward the imperative of our time: to conserve Earth’s resilient, vital large landscapes. The Center is inspired and led by a team of professionals with heart who bring their expertise and experience to the cause in support of good science and government, vision and on-the-ground practice, engineering, and communications. The Center’s resource library provides access to ideas, tools for policy makers and practitioners, case studies, and more.
BC’s Old Growth Forest: A Last Stand for Biodiversity
Karen Price (PhD), Rachel Holt (PhD, RPBio) and Dave Daust (MSc, RPF)
Karen Price (PhD), Rachel Holt (PhD, RPBio) and Dave Daust (MSc, RPF) conducted these analyses to investigate the province’s claims about the state of old growth, and arrived at a more accurate and, unfortunately, alarming view. For example, of the 13.2 million hectares of “old-growth”, the vast majority (80%) consists of small trees, including bog forests and subalpine forests. In contrast, only about 400,000 hectares of remaining old forest supports large trees, covering less than 1% of BC’s forested land. The report includes urgent recommendations, and concludes current policy will make matters worse.
Building Resilience in the Kootenays
Kootenay Resilience
These pages describe a number of local projects that are: examining ongoing threats to biodiversity and communities; assessing vulnerabilities, and; identifying opportunities for building resiliency.
Columbia Basin Action Plan
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
The Columbia Basin Plan sets forth the strategic direction for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) in the Columbia Region. The priority setting process is then described, followed by a short synopsis of the priority Action Plans. Taken together, this Basin Plan and the accompanying Action Plans present the FWCP priorities for investments in compensation activities within the Columbia Basin.
Conservation Resource Directory
Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative
To enhance communications and information exchange on landscape-level conservation efforts, the Great Northern LCC has developed an online resource directory containing descriptions of landscape initiatives and organizations that conduct conservation work within the Great Northern geographic area.
NCC Resource Centre
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a leader in conservation science and planning. Learn more about some of the concepts and terms behind our work, or download some of our conservation planning documents.
Research Brief: Ecosystem Services and British Columbia’s Inland Temperate Rainforest
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
This research brief provides a summary of new research on ecosystem services in B.C.’s inland temperate rainforest, as well as highlights from the Upper Columbia basin and southern mountain caribou habitat.
Taking Nature’s Pulse: The Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia
Biodiversity BC
This addresses the full range of land and freshwater biodiversity, including elements that overlap with the marine (saltwater) realm, such as salmon and seabirds, as well as important elements of biodiversity not addressed at a species or ecosystem level. It also discusses the pressures on biodiversity caused by human activity, including climate change.
Wildlife Connectivity: Fundamentals for Conservation Action
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Conserving nature’s parts and processes requires working at ecosystem, landscape, and bioregional scales. Size matters in ecology; in general, the larger the scale of focus, the better the chance of conserving critical ecological processes such as hydrologic function, natural disturbance regimes, species life cycles, and functional trophic interactions. This document is intended as a guide in advancing wildlife corridor and ecological connectivity conservation.
SPECIES AT RISK
Best Management Practices for Bats in British Columbia
Columbia Wetlands Marsh Bird Monitoring Project Report
Goldeneye Ecological Services/Canadian Wildlife Service
Species at Risk Fact Sheets
Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands
Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) is an initiative supported by the Government of Canada under the National Conservation Plan. The goal of this initiative is to help recover and protect species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) through voluntary stewardship on farmland where critical habitat for SARA-listed species are found.
Species at Risk Management Plan and Conservation Framework
BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
British Columbia is home to tens of thousands of plant and animal species living in a rich diversity of habitats. Many of these species and their habitats are at risk of extinction or extirpation. This site is a gateway to information about species and ecological communities (ecosystems) at risk in B.C.
Species at Risk Public Registry
Government of Canada
The Public Registry contains news, information, and documents related to species at risk in Canada. The website has been designed to help the public better understand Canada’s approach to protecting and recovering species at risk, learn about species at risk and what’s being done to help them, and get involved in decision making and recovery activities.
INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES
4 Phases of Indigenous Engagement
Bringing the Salmon Home
Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative is an Indigenous-led collaboration of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc Nation, Canada and British Columbia. Salmon have been blocked from returning to the Canadian portion of the upper Columbia River for more than 80 years. The long-term vision is to return salmon stocks for Indigenous food, social and ceremonial needs, and to benefit the region’s residents and ecosystems as a whole. Includes the Bringing the Salmon Home Festival.
Entering Ethical Space: A Series on Land-based Reconciliation in the Kootenay-Columbia
Guide for Land Acknowledgements
How to Be an Ally of Indigenous-led Conservation
Indigenous Ally Toolkit
Indigenous Conservation Agreements in Canada: A Review of Best Practices, Challenges, and Implications for the Future
Indigenous Laws in the Context of Conservation
Indigenous-Led Water Relationships within the Columbia Basin
Native-Land.ca
One with Nature: A Renewed Approach to Land and Freshwater Conservation in Canada
The Promise of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Canada
Bolstering Indigenous-led conservation will be critical if Canada wants to follow through on its climate, biodiversity and reconciliation promises. So what are the best practices? How can we get this right? And what we can learn from similar, longer-running efforts in Australia. Four expert panellists came together to share insights on how IPCAs can help us manage species, reduce wildfire risk and safeguard the environment
Transboundary Indigenous-led Conservation of Nature and Culture (Fourth Transboundary Dialogue)
Walking Together to Care for the Land and Water: NCC’s Indigenous Conservation Engagement Framework
We Rise Together: Achieving Pathway to Canada Target 1 through the Creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in the Spirit and Practice of Reconciliation
Whose Land is it Anyway? A Manual for Decolonization
Y2Y Principles for Working With Indigenous Peoples
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change Education Resources
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)
CBEEN has compiled an online library of climate change resources on its website. This is a one-stop shop that provides access to easy-to-use, localized and credible climate change resources and information for the Columbia Basin.
Climate Disruption in the Upper Columbia Basin
Columbia Basin Climate Source
Columbia Basin Trust & Selkirk College
The Columbia Basin Climate Source website was initiated by Columbia Basin Trust and developed by Selkirk College’s Applied Research and Innovation Centre. The site is for people seeking easy-to-understand information on climate change specific to communities throughout the Columbia Basin and boundary regions. The Climate Data Tool on the website has been enhanced to improve the presentation of data for over 40 climate variables in an easy-to-use format. Through data, videos, maps and more, the website offers information to help users understand the data and make better informed decisions locally.
WATER
BC Water Tool
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
The BC Water Tool is a modular application which provides access to water related data and knowledge in support of sustainable resource management. On this site you’ll find custom watershed reports for every stream, river and watershed in the Kootenay Boundary Region. You’ll also find monitoring data from more than 50 organizations, at more than 50,000 locations across southern B.C.
Columbia Basin Water Hub
Living Lakes Canada
The Columbia Basin Water Hub makes water data readily available to those who need to access it. The Water Hub contains numerical and spatial data, reports, photos and other types of information about streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, snow, glaciers and climate in the Columbia Basin, both historical and current. The data is accessible for decision makers, researchers, students, professionals and the public. Data can be submitted by community-based monitoring groups; municipal, regional or First Nations governments; Indigenous knowledge holders; the private sector; or academia. Data can also be linked to existing databases. Learn more by reading the full-length report about the Water Hub.
Expanding Water Monitoring Within Canada’s Upper Columbia Basin
Living Lakes Canada
On June 8th 2020, Living Lakes Canada on behalf of the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Collaborative convened and facilitated a hydrology workshop with the purpose of developing recommendations for a phased expansion of the monitoring network for the Upper (Canadian) Columbia Basin (UCB). Greg Utzig, PAg, and Dr. Martin Carver, PEng/PGeo, PAg, provided a proposed approach to expanding the UCB monitoring network, and then the workshop participants actively engaged with the proposal, providing feedback on how it might be improved and implemented.
Why Care About Water Data in the Columbia Basin?
Living Lakes Canada
The purpose of this three-part webinar series hosted by the Columbia Basin Water Hub and Living Lakes Canada is to increase awareness of what water data is, and the value and applications of water data for decision makers and the public. Webinar 1: Climate change in the Columbia Basin and why water data is needed for adaptation; Webinar 2: Who is collecting water data in the Columbia Basin?; Webinar 3: Applications of Water Data for Decision Making.
INVASIVE SPECIES
Canadian Columbia Basin Regional Framework for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Canadian Columbia Basin Invasive Species Program
This AIS Program Framework was designed primarily to increase collaboration between regional committees and their partners in the Basin, such as local stewardship groups and provincial agencies, for delivering their AIS programs.
Report Invasives BC App
Report a Weed BC
This Report Invasives app lets you report invasive species sightings anywhere in B.C. in a few quick and easy steps. Your report goes directly to a B.C. specialist for the reported species who will then coordinate follow-up activities with appropriate authorities when required. Downloads available for both Androids and iPhones.
RESTORATION
Forest Fuel Treatments for the Southern West Kootenays
Kutenai Nature Investigations Ltd.
This report prepared by Greg Utzig of Kutenai Nature Investigations Ltd. explores what types of fuel treatments would likely be most effective for application in forests in the Southern West Kootenays. The project has primarily involved a focused literature review of studies that assessed the efficacy of fuel treatments where those treatments have been tested under active wildfire conditions.
DATABASES, DIRECTORIES & TOOLKITS
BC Breeding Bird Atlas
British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas Partnership
The British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas partnership is proud to publish online one of the largest volunteer-based initiatives in British Columbia’s history, and a major new resource for conservation. Leading British Columbian bird experts describe the distribution, abundance, habitat and conservation of about 320 species of birds.
BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer
Government of BC Conservation Data Centre
Use the BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer to search for data and information about plants, animals and ecosystems in B.C.
BECWeb
BC Ministry of Forests and Range
This is the web portal for the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) and Ecology Research program of the British Columbia. This website is the source for information about the BEC system and access point for current and historical reports, maps, software, and other products of the program.
Columbia River Basin Biodiversity Atlas
Selkirk College Geospatial Research Centre
The Biodiversity Atlas has been developed with geographic information system (GIS) technology to provide information on biodiversity and help people learn, understand, and make decisions.
Conservation Atlas
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
The Heart of the Rockies Conservation Atlas is delivering the latest science in climate change adaptation and habitat connectivity to our land trust partners to help identify and validate selection of future conservation targets. This Atlas has a collection of spatial data specific to the conservation planning needs of our land trust partners. It is grouped into themed galleries: Connectivity, Habitat, Climate Change, Working Lands, and Planning. Thousands of additional datasets are also available to users through this platform.
Environmental Education Organization Directory
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)
CBEEN’s online searchable directory includes over 100 organizations that support environmental education opportunities for all ages in the Columbia Basin. This list can be searched and sorted by region, activity type, audience, and theme, and includes many KCP partners.
Kootenay National Park Resource Database
Friends of Kootenay National Park
This Research Database contains over 600 references on research and monitoring in Kootenay National Park. It can be searched by author, subject or any key word and download digital copies of the reports where available.
Forest Practices Board Reports & Publications
Forest Practices Board of B.C.
The Forest Practices Board serves the public interest as the independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices in British Columbia.
Natural Legacies (securement) Toolkit
Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia
In 2014, the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia embarked on an ambitious project known as the BC Conservation Toolkit. This project was designed to gather information of conservation in a simple, easy-to-use format for landowners, land trusts, professionals and municipalities.
Susan Bond Memorial Library
Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program
Thompson Rivers University has compiled 20 years of data from 11 intensive monitoring plots into a report. This ecosystem restoration monitoring data is critical to the Ecosystem Restoration program; as a new discipline it has to check its projects to make sure the goals of an improved healthier ecosystem are met. Monitoring also gives the program a chance to fine tune and improve its operations. The RMTERP monitoring protocols are based on draft plans from the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and this strategy was standardized specifically for the Rocky Mountain Trench ER program in 2002.
TECHNICAL
A Field Guide to Ecosystem Classification and Identification
B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
This field guide (MacKillop et al. 2021) covers the Boundary-Eastern Okanagan-Shuswap-Southern Arrow areas and includes ecosystem classifications for forested and non-forested units.
Field Guide to Site Classification & Identification for Southeast BC
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations (MFLNRO)
This field guide presents site classification and identification information for ecosystems of the south-central Columbia Mountains in southeast British Columbia.
Guidelines for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation During Road Building and Management Activities in British Columbia
Riparian Health Assessment
Cows and Fish
Wondering how to measure the health of your riparian area? This 4-page fact sheet will give you some ideas on why you may want to look at the health of your riparian area, and how you can use the information to make management decisions.
MISCELLANEOUS
Cumulative Effects Framework
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations (MFLNRO)
The province is implementing a cumulative effects framework, a management approach that close attention to a number of environmental, social and economic factors, including biodiversity, riparian conditions, water and air quality, fish and wildlife impacts, cultural and heritage concerns, community needs and economic development opportunities.
Planning 101
State of the Basin
Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute
The State of the Basin is an RDI initiative to monitor and report on information relating to well-being in the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. Understanding our region’s environmental vitality involves research focused on themes that include Biodiversity, Land (including food), Air (including climate), and Water.