Okanagan Valley Case Study

This project led by Dr. Corbett investigates the impacts of GECC on both the natural and the human-influenced environment in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia—the only designated desert region of Canada. In particular, it aims to address the related issues of increasing water scarcity and vegetation cover change and how these impacts will affect livelihoods (especially agriculture), alter existing ecosystem services, as well as stimulate government response. This project draws on PPGIS methodologies to encourage local communities to engage in a two-way dialogue with decision-makers. Drawing on extensive spatial databases and species distribution models, we are currently developing a series of Geoweb tools that show anticipated changes in projected water availability/scarcity and species distribution throughout the valley.