Future of native grasslands in doubt – interview with Trevor Herriot
Radio Canada International has posted an interview with the naturalist and Saskatchewan writer Trevor Herriot about the uncertain future of the native prairie grasslands found on former PFRA community pastures. One of my images of a stallion running through a prairie with sage brush was used as a page opener for the story posted on RCI web site. During the interview, Trevor spoke eloquently about the state of native prairie in Saskatchewan and all the wildlife that depends on the remaining large tracts of grasslands found on the former Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)...
Read MoreCalgary Zoo to begin a captive breeding program for Greater Sage Grouse
Greater Sage Grouse populations are at critically low numbers in Canada. The estimated population size is less than 100 birds, most of them can be found in the grasslands of southwest Saskatchewan and southeast Alberta. In December of 2013, Environment Canada published the first ever Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act to protect the Greater Sage Grouse on crown lands (see the related post, A step in the right direction). Later that month, Environment Canada released a proposal for the Amended Recovery Strategy for this species. There have been previous attempts to...
Read MoreSaskatchewan grasslands in peril – an illustrated talk
If you happen to be in Saskatoon today, come down to the Public Library – I will be presenting an illustrated talk titled: Saskatchewan Grasslands – a Vanishing Landscape? Friday, January 24, 2014 at 2 pm Frances Morrison Public Library in Saskatoon, 311 – 23rd Street East This event is open to the general public and I will be happy to see you in the crowd. Here is the official promo piece: Temperate grasslands are one of the most altered and modified landscapes in the world. In North America, 80% of the grasslands have been converted (only ~20% remain). Recent estimates...
Read MoreVideo: Natura 2000 – Pride of Croatia
I would like to share a short, 2 minute video made by a group of nature photographers from Croatia: Goran Safarek, Ante Zuljevic, Drasko Holcer and Italian videographer Claudia Amico. The video is called “Natura 2000 – Pride of Croatia”. I met Goran on my last trip to Croatia in October. He is an excellent photographer and an extremely dedicated conservationist. Here is a short background to the video that Goran sent me. As a result of entering the European Union in 2013, Croatia became part of the Natura 2000 network. This is the largest ecological network of protected areas in the...
Read MoreA tribute to the cowboys on PFRA community pastures
This photo essay is a tribute to the life of cowboys serving as managers and riders on the PFRA community pastures. A tribute to the hard-working people who have been looking after the federal community pastures in Prairie Provinces for over 75 years. Last October I visited the Wolverine Community Pasture north-east of Lanigan, one of the first five PFRA pastures to be transferred from federal control to the province of Saskatchewan. In turn, the pastures will be leased out to the current pasture users. The pasture patrons will pay a fee for the right to graze their herds on the public...
Read More