Keith Manders is a cattle rancher born and raised in the Okanagan. …he jumped on an opportunity to control fires using the two resources at his disposal: cows and land. …Manders’ Summerland plot is just one of three plots of land used in a targeted grazing pilot project. The others are in Kelowna and Cranbrook… The project’s cows eat grass that would otherwise yellow and dry out across the summer, removing what would normally become volatile fodder for fires in July and August. The strategy can be compared to mowing the lawn. Mowed lawn stays green longer, and is therefore less prone to fire. “Our biggest objective is to prove that we can reduce fire behaviour by grazing cattle,” said Mike Pritchard, the project’s coordinator and a former employee of BC Wildfire Services… The initiative is part of a move to rethink wildfire management practices.

…The Sparks Lake fire was the largest of the season, a conflagration that raged for more than two months, devouring 95,980 hectares of land and trees and destroying or damaging more than 35 buildings. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate; countless animals and birds were killed or displaced. The fire cut a broad swath through the region, from the Deadman River valley, across the territory of the Skeetchestn Indian Band, and up north into Bonaparte Provincial Park. …In terms of area burned, 2021 was the third-worst fire season on record in the province’s history. In terms of its broad impact, however, the 2021 fire season was the most devastating B.C. had ever experienced. Between April 1, 2021, and March 28, 2022, there were 1,642 wildfires… Then there was the disorienting “heat dome” in late June and early July that made the fires so much worse…and immediately transformed a normally temperate climate into one better approximating Death Valley. 

SQUAMISH, BC – An exponential increase in litter, wildlife conflicts due to human negligence, environmental degradation caused by poor human behaviour, and illegal land use throughout the Sea-to-Sky region has prompted local communities to  launch a marketing campaign urging residents and visitors to tread lightly and minimize their social and environmental impact so they “Don’t Love It to Death.” Starting this month, visitors travelling the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, which spans from North Vancouver and Bowen Islandnorth through Lillooet, will see signage encouraging locals and visitors to behave more responsibly when enjoying the outdoors and the communities. Signage will will feature imagery and thought-provoking messages reminding residents and visitors to be aware of their impact, and respect the environment using the tagline “Don’t Love it to Death.” …Negligent and illegal behaviour is disrupting visitors and locals, often having dire consequences for wildlife and natural areas.