The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) has received a $200,000 grant from the Washington, DC-based National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for grasslands conservation projects, announced on January 17.
The SSGA is collaborating with the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc. (SODCAP) on the projects. “We’re enlisting the help of producers in the southwest,” said Shane Jahnke, SSGA president. “We want to preserve the grasslands we have, and expand habitat onto some land that is no longer in its original state.”
Grasslands in southwest Saskatchewan are part of the target region. Indigenous temperate grasslands are one of the world’s great biomes, occupying about eight per cent of the earth, but they are also the most endangered, according to the World Commission on Protected Areas. Only 3.4 per cent of the world’s temperate grasslands are protected. Some of the species at risk because of loss of grasslands habitat include the greater sage grouse, the loggerhead shrike, the burrowing owl, the leopard frog, the swift fox and songbirds, among others.
“Our members have a huge stake in the state of Saskatchewan’s natural grass prairie,” said Jahnke. “The funding from NFWF and SARPAL will help us preserve habitat for species at risk, and will go a long way toward protecting the remaining grasslands.
This conservation project is part of a larger project. The NFWF funding will be matched by Species At Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL), a program of the federal Environment and Climate Change Canada Ministry. Last year the SSGA received $2.5 million from Environment Canada to lead a pilot project on species at risk with Saskatchewan, said Chad MacPherson, general manager of the SSGA. Of these funds, $200,000 have been allocated to restoring grasslands, saving native grass and protecting species. He adds that the U.S. Conservancy grant provided matching funding for the Environment Canada funds. This allows the SSGA to double the funds per acre that can be restored, he said.
In this project producers will turn back cultivated land into native prairie that will be used for grazing land and will provide natural habitat for wildlife and at risk species. Participating producers will implement grazing management strategies, control invasive species, prepare seeding beds, control weeds, and seed and establish native feedstock plants.
The SSGA will develop and implement four Habitat Management Areas and four Habitat Restoration Areas on 4,000 acres of native grasslands, reduce invasive species on 100 acres of native grasslands and restore habitat on 500 acres of previously disturbed grasslands.
While some conservationists blame habitat loss on overgrazing, this project aims to create native grasslands where good grazing management can contribute to the preservation of grasslands and habitat. “In the SSGA’s opinion, the grasslands and these species were developed historically in a grazing system with bison. That’s a very positive relationship.” said MacPherson.
“This is an important part of our commitment to sustainable beef production.” said Jahnke.
MacPherson explained the land preparation process. Soil has to be idled and prepared for prairie grass beds. Then it will be seeded with native grass seed that is appropriate to the particular soil type in a producer’s area. “It is working out to about $200 to $300 an acre to restore a project of grazing land,” he said. “Then we ask people not to graze it for a year or two to let it get established.” The SSGA will be covering the costs of the land being idle with the funding it has received.
“We are focusing on species at risk and part of the reason that there is species at risk is because they are losing their habitat due to loss of acres of grasslands,” MacPherson noted. “By creating new habitat or additional habitat we are helping to ensure their survival.” Many species require different attributes in their habitats and conservationists are just starting to understand these needs.
Producers who are interested in participating in this pilot project can contact the SSGA office or check out the SSGA’s website, said MacPherson.
