Dear Editor
Last spring, the federal government announced that, after 80 years of successful operation, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration's Community Pasture Program "has met its objectives" and will be shut down over the next five years. As part of the plan, the federal government is transferring 1.6 million acres of predominantly native prairie back to the care of the province. But rather than assume responsibility for the continuing stewardship of these vulnerable lands, the Wall government may decide to opt for a quick sale and a one-time profit.
The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 was designed to help settle the west. Homesteaders were given 160 acres of land under the condition that they build a residence and develop crops on a minimum of 10 acres in the first three years of occupancy. As we all know now, and probably should have known then, all land is not created equal. During the poor growing conditions and droughts of the 1930s, multitudes of farmers were forced to abandon their dreams and leave their settlements. As a result, the government reclaimed large tracts of lands. The PFRA was formed in 1935 in part to restore these degraded and abandoned parcels back to productive agricultural land.
Under PFRA management, land that had proven unsuitable for cropping was seeded back to grass. Together with large acreages of natural prairie, these areas were then carefully managed, through grazing, to prevent further erosion of the soil. These protected lands were made available to local livestock producers for a fee per cow/calf pair. The pastures were managed by the PFRA to ensure the health of the grazing stock as well as maintaining the health of the pasture and ensuring there were adequate water resources.
These sustainable agricultural practices developed over 80 years have resulted in an environmentally sound ecosystem that houses many native species of birds and wildlife, including 31 federally protected species at risk. There are ongoing challenges in maintaining these large tracts of fragile land. In some areas invasive species like leafy spurge are a problem. This weed was kept in check partly by using sheep to graze these areas to control the problem. Unfortunately the sheep program has also been scrapped.
Suren Kulshreshtha, a professor in the Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, was hired from 1999 to 2005 to do an economic valuation of various private and public services provided by the PFRA Community Pastures. His findings showed that for every dollar spent on the pastures there was a net benefit of $2.75 to the patrons and the community at large. Kulshreshtha says the true benefits were even greater, since his study did not consider the benefits of drought proofing, ground-water quality and flood reduction.
Although most of the costs of managing the PFRA pastures are currently covered by the fees paid by cattle producers, Kulshreshtha says the majority of the benefits accrue to the public in the form of water quality, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and carbon sequestration. Now, the provincial government wants to sell, or perhaps lease, these public lands to their current users. Even though the government directly benefits from the oil and gas, gravel easements and recreational opportunities on these lands, they expect the current patrons to pick up the entire cost of management, while only reaping part of the benefits.
Let's take the time to assess and study the problem, or opportunity, which was suddenly dropped in our laps by the federal government, and come to an equitable agreement with the pasture patrons while at the same time preserving these lands for future generations of Saskatchewan citizens.
Remember the song of the 1960s, "this land is your land, this land is my land. This land was made for you and me." It would be a great mistake to sell these currently protected lands. We have a great resource here. Let's not mess it up.
Bernadette Vangool
Saskatoon
