A very positive development!

The former PFRA pastures, Govenlock, Nashlyn and Battle Creek in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan will be transferred to Environment and Climate Change Canada who will manage them much as in the past with livestock grazing used to enhance natural landscapes for a variety of native flora and fauna, including 10 Species at Risk. In return Saskatchewan will acquire lands and improvements (fencing, barns and corrals) in 55 former federal community pastures.

The agreement covering 800 square kilometers or 200,000 acres was developed in consultation with local producers. Public Pastures – Public Interest and other conservation organizations have contributed to discussions leading to the transfer of assets between the federal and provincial governments.  We are gratified to see that these pristine grasslands will be preserved in their natural state for years to come.

PPPI continues to stress the essential need to work with ranchers, conservation organizations and government agencies to bring Species at Risk programming and conservation measures to all publicly owned grasslands in Saskatchewan, particularly the former federal and provincial community pastures, and the importance of valuing preservation efforts on privately-managed and public grasslands.

Note of Explanation:

Starting in the drought conditions of the 1930s, the original pasture lands, considered not suitable for crop farming, were transferred by the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments and some municipalities to the federal government to be administered by the program under the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act. In addition, the federal government bought some land to join together segments of pasture land or to provide a location for the PFRA pasture managers’ central location, plus, the federal government paid for fencing, barns and corrals to manage the cattle operations. When the PFRA program was ended, starting in 2012, the lands that had been previously transferred by the provinces and municipalities to the federal government were transferred back to the provinces. But the federal government still owned the land it had purchased on its own over the years, as well as the fencing, barns and corrals. After some discussion, including local ranchers and conservation groups, the federal and Saskatchewan governments agreed to make a swap. The federal government got the three large pastures with habitat for many Species at Risk in the southwest (Govenlock, Battle Creek and Nashlyn) and the Saskatchewan government got the federally owned lands and other cattle management assets in 55 pastures located throughout Saskatchewan.

For more details, see the following:

– Governments’ media release “Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan join forces with ranchers to protect biodiversity in Saskatchewan”

– Saskatoon Star Phoenix “Feds to acquire pastures in South Sask. for conservation”