Conservation Action Plan
for the Thompson Watershed
Conservation Action Plan
for the Thompson Watershed
The Thompson Watershed is an area of breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, vital agricultural practices, and rich cultural heritage. This biologically unique area hosts species and ecosystems found nowhere else in Canada, and in some instances, the world. Unfortunately, many of its wildlife habitats and natural spaces face imminent threats due to urban development, industrial activities, and other human impacts on land and water. Habitat loss, fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, pollution, and resource competition collectively contribute to the decline of biodiversity within the watershed.
In response to these challenges, the Conservation Action Plan (CAP) for the Thompson Watershed has been developed. This collaborative effort engaged numerous stakeholders, including government agencies, organizations, Indigenous communities, and stewardship groups. The CAP serves as a strategic roadmap, guiding targeted conservation initiatives to ensure the sustainable stewardship of natural resources and biodiversity. By envisioning the future ecological health of the region, the CAP outlines actionable steps to protect and enhance its natural values over the long term. Importantly, it transcends jurisdictional boundaries, considering entire ecosystems, watersheds, and all land tenures.
The CAP was developed through a collaborative process with government agencies, environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and local stewards actively participating in workshops and dialogues, sharing their knowledge and perspectives. Indigenous knowledge and cultural perspectives played a central role in shaping the CAP. Experts in ecology, biology, and research contributed by mapping habitats, assessing species distribution, and identifying critical areas.
See MAP
The CAP planning area is defined in general by the boundary of the Thompson Watershed (coloured sub-watersheds in MAP graphic). The Shuswap sub-watershed (administered by the Regional District of North Okanagan) was excluded, as was the Nicola sub-watershed, which is being addressed by the Nicola Watershed Governance Partnership.
Together, the participants in the CAP development identified nine strategies and prioritized conservation actions needed to address the threats to key conservation values, focused on species at risk, habitat restoration, and sustainable land use planning.
The infographic below summarizes the CAP and is followed by details of the actions identified for each strategy. The full CAP document can be downloaded here.
VALUES
to protect
THREATS
to value
STRATEGIES
to address threats
Overarching approaches we encourage conservation and stewardship planners and practitioners to adopt:
TAKING ACTIONS
to address strategies
GET INVOLVED
Use the CAP to guide your conservation projects by exploring the strategies and actions
Explore Current Initiatives
Find opportunities to collaborate on conservation projects.
Support TNCC Working Groups
Working Groups are the driving force behind the CAP, collaborating to select and implement key actions.
Our funders
VALUES
THREATS
STRATEGIES
Get Involved
Conservation partners work together to plan for and tackle critical ecological issues throughout the Thompson Watershed — from threats to species at risk, water quantity, air quality, to urban sprawl. Please join us in helping to protect the local environment, and our health.
