Saskatchewan Proclaims Native Prairie Appreciation Week, June 12-18, 2016

The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) is pleased to coordinate Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) across the province of Saskatchewan from June 12 to 18, 2016. Saskatchewan is the only jurisdiction in North America to officially proclaim an annual weeklong celebration of native prairie to raise awareness about grassland conservation.
 
For eighteen years, Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment have collaborated to officially proclaim this special week. SK PCAP also works with urban municipalities across the province to proclaim NPAW in their respective cities. This year the Cities of Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Swift Current are also participating on a local level.
 
“Native Prairie Appreciation Week continues to be a valuable initiative that connects Saskatchewan’s people from all types of backgrounds to our prairie grasslands and species at risk,” explained Orin Balas, rancher and chair of SK PCAP. “Saskatchewan prairie is still home to numerous grassland species at risk, and provides benefits to our ecosystem and economy, including habitat, carbon sequestration and forage,” Balas said.  
A new resource, a workbook titled “Native Prairie: Manage it Today to Appreciate for Tomorrow” will be released during NPAW. The book, co-developed with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Society for Range Management-Prairie Parkland Chapter, outlines information on range management and grassland monitoring methods. The resource also includes insight on species at risk, and also features quizzes, stocking rate calculations and invasive weed management strategies. “It has been a long time since a comprehensive and fun resource dedicated to range management has been developed in Saskatchewan,” said Kayla Balderson Burak, SK PCAP manager. “This book builds on the work that SK PCAP has done in the past as well as the expertise of our partners,” she added.
 
The week-long celebration focuses on creating awareness of what native prairie grassland is as well as educating the public and stakeholders on the benefits of conserving this valuable resource which is still dwindling. SK PCAP will host information booths at numerous local urban farmers’ markets and announce the winners from their province-wide youth poster contest. The week will conclude with the annual Society for Range Management Tour, open to the public, this year taking place on June 16 and 17, 2016 near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
 
Since 1998, the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Partnership has brought together native prairie stakeholder groups, including organizations representing producers, industry, provincial & federal governments, non-government organizations and research and educational institutions under a common vision for prairie conservation in Saskatchewan. There are currently thirty partners who participate in SK PCAP.    
 Click HERE for more information on 2016 Native Prairie Appreciation Week celebrations