An energy consultant raising funds for the Nature Conservancy of Canada made a stop in Kelowna on his bike ride across Western Canada.

He said his goal for the 1,400-kilometre trip is to show people how important it is to take care of our natural ecosystems, especially as climate change continues to take a toll on wildlife, forests and wetlands.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e been here for a couple hundred years now and thatsa国际传媒檚 left a bit of an impact on the natural flora and fauna,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淲hile that in itself is a bit of a challenge, itsa国际传媒檚 going to be particularly problematic as the impacts of climate change intensify. We need to make sure that the health of our forests, wetlands and prairies are in the best shape they can be to make sure that we can withstand the droughts, floods and forest fires wesa国际传媒檙e experiencing now and will continue to experience.sa国际传媒�

Simakov said he used to come to the Okanagan on road trips with his family when he was younger, saying he remembered seeing stars clearly throughout the summer.

Now, with wildfires raging and smoke blanketing the valley, he couldnsa国际传媒檛 see the stars that made an impression on him as a boy.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been particularly difficultsa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 harder to breathe and it stings your eyes, so I have to wear my glasses for every moment Isa国际传媒檓 riding or they blur up,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淵ou also pass these burned-out charred landscapes and it tugs at you in a way that hearing the news or seeing videos doesnsa国际传媒檛. I also expected to see more wildlifesa国际传媒� but I havensa国际传媒檛 seen much beyond a deer and a few crows. Some of these ecosystems have lost their vitality and I just think we need to take proactive, prudent measures now to start reversing this and restore the vitality.sa国际传媒�

He said he has also had a chance to connect with people throughout his ride, sharing with them what he has seen firsthand with wildfire-ravaged areas but he has also had a chance to learn more about what is being done by non-profits like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve and restore wildlands.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 really hoping to apply these firsthand experiences of what Isa国际传媒檝e seen on the ground here to better inform myself, my colleagues and my industry to make sure wesa国际传媒檙e more cognizant of the impact we can have, both negatively and positively,sa国际传媒� he said.

To donate to Simakovsa国际传媒檚 Nature Conservancy fundraiser, you can do so .

READ MORE: In 2021, wildfires in B.C. have burned more land than all of P.E.I.

READ MORE: White Rock Lake wildfire orders ease but concern could rise along with the temperature

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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