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Saskatchewan Proclaims its 20th Native Prairie Appreciation Week Celebration
Regina, SK - June 18, 2018
The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) is pleased to celebrate the 20th Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) across the province of Saskatchewan from June 17 to 23, 2018. Saskatchewan is the only place in North America to officially proclaim an annual week long celebration of native prairie to raise awareness about grasslands and prairie species at risk conservation.
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment continue to collaborate to officially proclaim this special week in the province. SK PCAP also works with urban municipalities across the province to proclaim NPAW in their respective cities. This year the Cities of Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Swift Current are also participating on a local level.
"We are extremely proud that Native Prairie Appreciation Week has been a fixture in our province for the past twenty years," said Orin Balas, rancher and chair of SK PCAP. "NPAW remains a valuable opportunity for conservationists to connect people from all types of backgrounds to Saskatchewan's prairie grasslands and species at risk," he added. "Saskatchewan's prairie grasslands provide numerous ecosystem services including forage, habitat, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity," Balas said.
The week's celebration focuses on creating awareness of what native prairie grassland is as well as educating the public and stakeholders on the benefits of conserving this valuable resource which continues to dwindle. SK PCAP will host a photo contest, provide a booths at farmers' markets in Swift Current, Regina, and Weyburn, participate in the National Aboriginal Day celebration in Regina on June 21, and announce winners from the youth poster contest. The week will conclude with the annual Society for Range Management Tour taking place June 21 and 22, 2018 near Beechy, Saskatchewan. People interested in how to celebrate NPAW can visit here where you can find a prairie exploration checklist, information on current events, and more about the history of NPAW celebrations.
Since 1998, the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Partnership has brought together native prairie stakeholder groups, including organizations representing producers, industry, provincial & federal governments, non-government organizations and research and educational institutions under a common vision for prairie conservation in Saskatchewan. There are currently twenty-nine partners who participate in SK PCAP.
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For media information, contact:
Diego Steinaker, SK PCAP Manager - (306) 352-0472
Orin Balas, SK PCAP Chair, 306-625-7097
Twitter:
@SaskPCAP
Facebook.com/SKPCAP
#NPAW18 #18NPAWContest
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SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2018-2019 from:
Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canada North Environmental Services, EcoFriendlySask.ca, Information Services Canada, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada, Rancher's Stewardship Alliance Inc., Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Water Security Agency.
SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges In-kind support in 2018-19 from:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Canadian Western Agribition, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Friends of Wascana Marsh, Meewasin Valley Authority, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park, Prairie Wind & Silver Sage, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Forage Council, Saskatchewan Forage Industry Network, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment,
Saskatchewan Ministry of Economy, Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, Saskatchewan Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport - Royal Saskatchewan Museum and Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Saskatoon Nature Society, SaskEnergy, SaskOutdoors, SaskPower, Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., University of Regina - Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Wild About Saskatoon-Nature City Festival.
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