Three large community pastures in SW Saskatchewan closer to protection
Great conservation news: Canadian (federal) and Saskatchewan governments officially announced a formal land exchange of three former PFRA community pastures: Nashlyn, Govenlock and Battle Creek. The agreement between the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture will enable the federal and provincial governments to work together with local ranching and Indigenous communities to preserve Saskatchewan’s native grassland ecosystem. ECCC will manage the three pastures for the conservation of species at risk and...
Read MoreGrasslands on Canada’s top 10 endangered places list
The National Trust for Canada (NTC) has released today its latest Top 10 Endangered Places at Risk. NTC is a national charity that leads action to save historic places of cultural and natural significance. The organization’s goal is to inspire Canadians to identify and celebrate their heritage landmarks, cultural landscapes and communities, and conserve them for present and future generations. Two prairie landmarks made the top 10 list: Saskatchewan’s grasslands and wooden grain elevators. These places that define identity, community spirit and a sense of belonging are slowly eroding due to...
Read MoreConservation groups call for protection of former PFRA pastures
The 23rd Prime Minister of Canada was sworn into the office this morning. There are high expectations from the new federal government under the leadership of Justin Trudeau to repair damage caused by the departing Conservatives, especially in the area of environmental protection and climate change. Three large conservation organizations: Nature Canada, Nature Saskatchewan and Alberta Wilderness Association are calling the new Liberal government to announce an immediate pause in transfer of community pastures formerly managed by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) to...
Read MoreThe Last Cowboy – a short documentary film about the human cost of PFRA pasture closures
A few days ago a friend alerted me to a marvelous and touching documentary film about Jim Commodore, a retired cowboy at the Val Marie PFRA Community Pasture. This 6-minute documentary conveys a message about the human cost of the Community Pasture System closure, told through the eyes of a long time cowboy Jim Commodore. The Last Cowboy was produced by Megan Lacelle and Kaitlyn Van de Woestyne, journalism students at the University of Regina. Jim Commodore was born at the Val Marie PFRA pasture in 1941 and spent his working career as a cowboy on the federally run community pasture. In a...
Read MoreA short visit to prairies of southern Saskatchewan
August went by in a blink of an eye. At least for me this year. I have been preoccupied with efforts to finish my thesis (I am currently enrolled in a Master of Sustainable Development program at the University of Saskatchewan). A self-imposed restriction on travel & photography resulted in a rather slim harvest of images. A week ago I had to attend a meeting in Val Marie, just a stone throw from Grassland National Park. An opportunity to take my camera gear on a short jaunt and deal with the nagging withdrawal symptoms. Last year Parks Canada started an extensive trail construction on...
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