This is a photograph of a sunlit grassland with sporadic bunches of trees.
Flash animation content: Many plants have very small leaves to reduce water loss. The Brittle Prickly-pear Cactus has fleshy stems to store scarce water. First Peoples: Nlaka'pamux traditional clothing incorporates materials from a complex variety of grassland plants and animals. History: Many native grasses were destroyed as new, artificial grasslands were created for harvest. Photo credits Grassland background image. Richard Cannings. Brittle Prickly-pear Cactus. Robert Cannings. Buckskin bag. RBCM 2666. Threshing grain near Dawson Creek, 1950. BC Archives I-22142.
This is a link to a map of the Grasslands of British Columbia with an optional close-up map of the Southern Okanagan.

Behind the coastal ranges

protected from the wet Pacific air, lie golden valleys of grass – British Columbia's driest places. Although small and scattered, these landscapes host a surprisingly rich assortment of plants and animals that can thrive in warm, dry conditions. But human impact can be severe. Fragile grasslands are easily damaged and many have been converted to towns, orchards and vineyards.
British Columbia grasslands, with their warm climate, rich soils, abundant life and spacious, dramatic settings have long attracted human habitation.