The South Okanagan and Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP) and partners initiated a biodiversity strategy (Keeping Nature In our Future) in 2010.

Keeping Nature in Our Future was developed through a collaborative and consultative process, guided by a steering committee that included local governments, federal and provincial government ministries, First Nations observers and participants, and non-profit organizations.

Keeping Nature in our Future document is a result of the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy and is considered a high level guidance document similar to the Regional Growth Strategy. It is neither a Plan nor a regulatory document but rather an informational guide with which to base future policy decisions upon.

At its meeting of September 5, 2013, the Planning and Development (P&D) Committee of the Regional District Board resolved to " accept Keeping Nature in our Future: A Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the South Okanagan-Similkameen as a guiding document for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the amendment of official community plans."

The Regional District is currently in the process of reviewing its Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit (ESDP) Area designations, a project which is anticipated to be completed in 2015, and is using the Keeping Nature in our Future document as a guide.