Total cost of this acquisition is $2.7 million including purchase and other costs such as appraisal,
legal fees, and a land management endowment. The Nature Trust has divided the lot into 10
equal portions; our goal is to complete 3 portions early in 2015. With the commitment of a partial
Ecological Gift donation by the landowners, along with committed funds from other agencies, we
need to raise $280,000 by March 31, 2015.

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is working to acquire 34.6 hectares of rare antelope-brush habitat in the South Okanagan as the fourth and final phase of its antelope-brush conservation area project.

The land is home to one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.

Located at the south end of Vaseux Lake, between Okanagan Falls and Oliver, the acquisition, in conjunction with The Nature Trust’s adjoining properties, will create the largest private holding of antelope-brush habitat.

The habitat is home to more than 20 species at risk, including the Behr’s hairstreak butterfly. More than half of the Canadian population of this butterfly resides in the habitat, as its survival is dependent on the antelope-brush for laying its eggs. The butterflies travel only a kilometre away from the chrysalis during their lifetime, making it unlikely they can relocate if the habitat is not protected.

Bighorn sheep, pallid bat, desert night snake, great basin spade foot and Lewis’s woodpecker are among other species at risk known to live on these lands.