Nature Conservancy Canada has finalized the purchased of 866 hectares of native grasslands along the north shore of Buffalo Pound Lake.
The purchase took place as part of a partnership between the NCC, the federal government, and K+S Potash Canada.
Parliamentary secretary for the ministry of environment Terry Duguid said the government of Canada aims to invest in protecting Canada’s grasslands.
“This program is part of the Canada Nature Fund, Budget 2018’s historic $1.3-billion investment in nature conservation,” Duguid said. “That’s the single-largest investment in protecting nature in Canada’s history.”
This is part of an offset program from when K+S built their Bethune Legacy project potash mine
Colin Braithwaite from K+S says this is the largest grasslands offset program in Saskatchewan.
“In K+S Potash Canada’s circumstance, 194 hectares of grasslands that was impacted by the mine construction have been offset by conserving another area of high-value grasslands, and our partnership enabled NCC to invest the funding where it would provide the greatest conservation value possible.”
Director of Conservation for NCC Cameron Wood says grazing will be allowed on the land.
“Grazing is something that we see as hugely valuable — both for the local economy, ranchers and producers, but it’s also vital for conservation,” Wood said. “These systems evolved under grazing by bison and wildfire, and grazing livestock is a valuable tool to emulate those processes, and without it we’re never going to be able to achieve out conservation goals.”
The grasslands being protected help keep drinking water safe for nearly a quarter of Saskatchewan’s population, including residents from both Regina and Moose Jaw. It is also home to several species at risk.
