PUBLIC PASTURES – PUBLIC INTEREST
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday September 20, 2017
PASTURES PETITION CALLS FOR MULTI-USE CONSERVATION NETWORK
Regina, Saskatchewan: A petition tabled in Parliament today by MP Wayne Stetski calls on the federal government to work with livestock producers, First Nations and Métis organizations, local committees and conservation groups to restore conservation programming to the former federal Community Pastures. These pastures are recognized widely as being among the continent’s most ecologically important remnants of native prairie, which not only provide health and cultural benefits to Saskatchewan people, but are also home to more than 30 endangered species.
According to the World Wildlife Fund’s “Living Planet Report” released last week, “natural prairie grassland is considered the most heavily degraded terrestrial habitat in the world.” The report goes on to state that “populations of grassland birds have seen their numbers plunge on average by 69 per cent since 1970 . . . .The most significant threat to the region’s wildlife is habitat loss, as the grasslands have been converted into agricultural fields or divided by other development.” Living Planet Report Canada http://www.wwf.ca/newsroom/reports/lprc.cfm
When asked about the loss of conservation programming for these rare ecosystems, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Minister, Lawrence Macaulay, has repeated the position of Harper government Minister, Gerald Ritz, saying that the community pasture program is no longer needed because it has “achieved its objectives.”
Macaulay suggests that environmental legislation including Species at Risk Act will on its own replace the pre-existing grassland biodiversity and conservation programming, and compel private ranchers now leasing the lands to manage for ecological objectives and species at risk.
The WWF report underscores the deficiencies in the past and current federal government’s approach to conservation. “The rapid decline of grassland animals such as the greater sage-grouse and burrowing owl have shown that species at risk legislation on its own is not enough,” said Trevor Herriot, grassland advocate and co-chair of Public Pastures—Public Interest. “It is disingenuous to suggest that private livestock producers will have the capacity to protect biodiversity, species at risk and carbon sequestration without support from government.”
“The federal government has an opportunity to utilize contributions from both the environment and agriculture ministries and play a positive leadership role in recognizing the shortcomings of previous federal government’s decision to eliminate the PFRA program and the supports it was providing for the ecological care of the pastures.”
“The ranching businesses on their own cannot be expected to manage a mix of habitat for so many prairie species at risk. Without significant federal support for conservation initiatives, as outlined in the petition, the trends identified in the WWF Report will not improve.”
Public Pastures – Public Interest is a network of local and international individuals and organizations working for the preservation and sustainable use of Crown pasturelands and grasslands.
Trevor Herriot Cell: 306-585-1674
E-mail: public4pastures@gmail.com
Website: https://pfrapastureposts.wordpress.com
Wayne Stetski Office: 613-995-7246
E-Petition e-927 (Land use) to Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, presented in the Canadian Parliament by Wayne Stetski, MP on September 20, 2017
Whereas:
· Canada’s old growth prairie is representative of the most endangered and least protected ecosystems on the planet (The Hohhot Declaration, July 2008; Dan Kraus, October 24, 2016) and provides a vast array of ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, species-at-risk habitat, soil and water conservation;
· Retaining the public ownership and ecological integrity of the former Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) Pastures answers Canada’s obligations to our international commitments including the UN Convention on Biodiversity and Aichi Accord, Paris Accord, the Migratory Bird Convention as well as our national biodiversity strategy, Pathway to Canada Target 1; and
· Retaining public ownership and ecological integrity of the former PFRA Pastures aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, contributes to Canada’s commitment to Indigenous peoples under the numbered Treaties and responds to Reconciliation efforts.
We, the undersigned, Citizens and Residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to work with livestock producers, First Nations and Métis organizations, local committees and conservation organizations to create a multi-use prairie conservation network on all former PFRA Community Pastures that meets ranchers’ needs for grazing and protects Canada’s 75-year investment in the ecological wellbeing of this important ecosystem and its biodiversity, treaty, climate change, and heritage values.
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-927
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