REGINA — The City of Regina has approved a new biodiversity reserve.
The approximately 50 acres of city-owned land are located east of the Caledonia Curling Club.
“The motion is about … protecting a part of our history and story as prairie people,” said Coun. David Froh (Ward 3), who created the motion.
Dale Hjertaas, conservation director with Nature Regina, said once grassland is gone, it’s very challenging to re-establish mixed-grass prairie.
“There are some successes at it, but to a significant extent, generally speaking, once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Before approval of the new biodiversity reserve, Regina’s only area with grassland was McKell Wascana Conservation Park, a 171-acre park space.
With a lack of grassland, some of the 200-plus unique species of plants, birds and insects in Regina were at risk of becoming endangered.
“Species tend to go extinct when their islands of habitat get too small,” said Hjertaas.
Talks of creating a new biodiversity reserve began roughly three years ago, but hurdles, including proposed development, delayed its creation.
The city plans to create several pathways in the area for walking access, along with signage.
The land will also see disturbance when the city performs water maintenance and installs a water trunk in the coming years. However, Regina will restore natural grass and species after this work.
As for naming the park, the city will work with Nature Regina and the Elders Advisory Committee to determine the naming process.
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