Sheila Kerr has been named Peachlandsa国际传媒檚 Unsung Hero.

She was recognized for her efforts as a community leader at the districtsa国际传媒檚 civic awards on April 26.

Kerr has been cleaning up the Okanagan backcountry for years and helped found the Okanagan Forest Task Force.

Thankful for the award, Kerr is using the opportunity to encourage others to do their part.

sa国际传媒淚 recognize that the challenges that our habitat and our environment are facing are human-caused,sa国际传媒� Kerr said. sa国际传媒淢aybe not by me or you personally, but they are problems created by humans, and animals cansa国际传媒檛 fix them.sa国际传媒�

Kerr said we all have a responsibility to keep our forests clean, sa国际传媒渁nd thatsa国际传媒檚 one of the reasons that the Okanagan Forest Task Force existssa国际传媒� Wesa国际传媒檙e all humans on this planet and we all have to take care of it and clean up our mess.sa国际传媒�

On top of cleaning the backcountry, Kerr added that we need to do better when it comes to fire season.

sa国际传媒淎bandoned campfires are a huge issue. Last year during fire season, I think the Okanagan Forest Task Force extinguished something like 300 abandoned campfiressa国际传媒� I cansa国际传媒檛 believe I have to say it, but there I was just the other day putting out somebodysa国际传媒檚 fire.sa国际传媒�

Kerr also addressed the illegal dumping of yard waste in the backcountry.

sa国际传媒淚t introduces invasive species to our backcountry, which can cause many problems, and it helps to fuel wildfires,sa国际传媒� Kerr said this undermines the mitigation work done ahead of fire season.

The Unsung Hero is inviting others to get involved by joining the task force and the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance on May 4 for a clean-up. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. a the cattle guards on Princeton Avenue.

For those not able to make the event, Kerr encourages people to join the Facebook group OFTF to learn about future opportunities.

READ MORE: Clean it up, move it out of Peachlandsa国际传媒檚 watershed