That's more of a dustbowl caused by deforestation - doesn't have the arid (or semi-arid) climate of a true desert.

The Osoyoos "desert" isn't really arid enough, either.

Deserts don't have to look like sand dunes, they are any area with a low rainfall. Sometimes the plants that are adapted are virtually a forest, but it's still a desert. For example in the Baja California desert: https://mbgecologicalrestoration.files.wordpress.com/2015/03...

Why would you want to conserve that? Isn't reverse-desertification a good thing?

Desert areas often have unique plants and animals living in them that would quickly die if competing with faster growing lifeforms. This tends to not be a good thing, because in proper deserts, there are times of the year where there is a lot of rain, but a long period of time where there is little to no rain. So, these invasive species will shoot up in the winter and spring, then dry out and die in the summer and fall when there's no rain to keep the plants alive. The resulting tinderbox is ripe for a fire to burn through and cause problems for everyone.

I guess it's because it's one of its kind, and it's a relatively small area - so it's worth keeping as a tourist attracting, if nothing else.