Nature Conservancy of Canada
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) works with landowners to protect Canada's most threatened natural habitats for over 40 years. NCC opened a Saskatchewan Regional Office in 1997 and is now co-managing 82 properties in the province. It has focused primarily on the protection and stewardship of critical native prairie.
For Saskatchewan's Centennial, NCC completed a $10 million "Campaign for Conservation in Saskatchewan". With the support of donors from across Canada, NCC's Saskatchewan region exceeded its financial goal, and has been able to protect more than 55,000 acres of ecologically significant land in partnership with Saskatchewan landowners.
As part of its "Gift to Canadians" for 2005, NCC announced the protection of a specific area designated as the Saskatchewan Centennial Property. It is located near Old Wives Lake in the heart of the Missouri Coteau and is comprised of 258 ha of mixed-grass prairie and wetlands. A wide array of shorebirds, land birds, waterfowl, and water birds rely on the Missouri Coteau for breeding and migratory habitat. At-risk bird species including endangered Piping Plover and threatened Prairie Loggerhead Shrike breed there, making the protection of the area critical to the future of the species. A total of 33 bird species, 84 plant species, one amphibian and four mammals have been recorded on the property.
NCC dedicated the Saskatchewan Centennial Property to the people of Saskatchewan and Canada, particularly those who played a direct role in supporting conservation in the province.
Previous protected areas under the Gift to Canadians program include:
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The 260 ha 'May' Property is a mosaic of grassland and coulee habitats in the Qu'Appelle Valley that is nationally significant due to the presence of Sprague's Pipit, a nationally threatened species. This property links two other areas of protected land to create a 1,306 ha corridor of critical habitat including wetlands, native prairie and riparian areas.
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In 2003, NCC and EnCana partnered to conserve 470 ha of unique and threatened grasslands and wetlands at Jewel Creek, near Weyburn in southeast Saskatchewan. The area has a high biodiversity, and is home to the nationally threatened Sprague's Pipit and the declining Western Painted Turtle.
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In 2002, NCC with the support of Alliance Pipeline Ltd., Saskatchewan Environment and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, announced the conservation of the Elizabeth Hubbard Property named in honour of the prominent local naturalist's endowment. It is an ecologically significant piece of Saskatchewan's Lower Qu'Appelle Valley with pristine areas of Bur Oak, critical habitat for breeding and migratory birds, and offering a wildlife corridor for large mammals.
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The largest NCC project in Saskatchewan is the 5,300 ha, Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in southwestern Saskatchewan. (See profile of Sharon and Peter Butala)
NCC in Saskatchewan is focused on protecting lands in five main areas; the Cypress Uplands, Missouri Coteau, Frenchman River Watershed, Qu'Appelle River Valley, as well as three key sites within the Aspen Parkland - the Quill Lakes, Redberry Lake and Moose Mountain Uplands.
The NCC is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that takes a business-like approach to land conservation and the preservation of biological diversity. Its plan of action involves partnership building and entering into creative conservation solutions with any individual, corporation, community group, conservation organization or government body that shares its aims. Since 1962, NCC and its supporters have protected more than 1.8 million acres of ecologically significant land nationwide.
For more information visit http://www.natureconservancy.ca.
The Jewel Creek property near Weyburn, SK
NCC photo