August 2023 | Volume 15 Issue 8 | |
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Happy August, Grassland Enthusiasts!
There are tons of events coming up as well as several news articles related to native prairie again this month, make sure to check them out below!
The August Native Prairie Speaker Series is about monitoring of migratory birds with Jordan Rustad from the Last Mountain Bird Observatory. You can register here.
And finally, we would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association, K+S Youth+Us, North American Helium, Nutrien, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the continuous support of all the PCAP Partners.
Carolyn Gaudet, SK PCAP Manager
pcap@sasktel.net
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Employment Opportunities
Saskatchewan Environmental Society is searching for a Full-time Energy Sector Coordinator and a Part-time Living Cities Coordinator. More information can be found here. The deadline for applications is August 18, 2023
The Alberta Conservation Association has a number of jobs available including Junior Biologist, Senior Biologist and Communications Coordinator. Check the postings for applications deadlines.
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Funding Available to Landowners in Southwestern Saskatchewan
Now in its third year, the South of the Divide Invasive Alien Species Strategy aims to help landowners in southwestern Saskatchewan with weed management and support species at risk, in part by providing matched funding to support on the ground activities. The project is a collaboration between the federal government and local non-profit organizations lead by the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan (NPSS).
“Ranchers are key to conserving and managing native prairie and we know they’re doing a great job, but aggressive weeds like Leafy Spurge put a strain on farm families and the land, so we’re trying to help in any way we can” says Chet Neufeld, Executive Director of the NPSS.
Dollar for dollar matched funding is available for landowners with native prairie who have implemented or plan to implement weed control in 2023. Eligible costs include herbicide and application costs, costs for sheep or goat grazing, expenses from acquiring biocontrol (ie. beetles), and in some cases, fencing or mineral block costs, if it can be demonstrated that the fencing helps to control weeds or helps species at risk. Other costs may also be eligible if they can be proven to manage weeds or improve conditions for species at risk. Those who are approved for matched funding will simply need to submit bills for the total cost and a cheque will be issued for half the amount. Funding is limited and not guaranteed to everyone who applies.
The South of the Divide region, located in the southwest corner of SK, is comprised of the RMs of Reno, Frontier, Lone Tree, Val Marie, most of White Valley, and parts of Maple Creek, Piapot, Arlington, Grassy Creek, Wise Creek, Auvergne, Glen McPherson, Mankota, Waverley and Old Post. The 14,157 km2 region is critically important to Saskatchewan’s ranching industry and contains some of the largest and best quality native prairie remaining in the province, home to many rare species.
To see if you qualify for matched funding or for more information on the program, please contact the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan at info@npss.sk.ca
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Partner Spotlight:
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation Submitted by Mindy Hockley, Assistant Program Manager
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is a federally registered charity and land trust with a special interest in conserving native grasslands within the province. Our work takes us throughout Saskatchewan but we have a strong focus on the southwestern corner of the province that has large blocks of intact grasslands unlike other areas.
We’ve been busy working to sign our first Term Conservation Easement, which are the first of their kind in Saskatchewan. They similar to other easement programs in the sense that they are tied to land title and come with restrictions to protect the ecological integrity of the land but ours only have three restrictions and are for a set term length instead of forever. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association have teamed up with us to explore new ways to compensate landowners for Term Conservation Easements. One of these included an income-based approach, where you take into account how much a landowner could potentially make if the native grasslands were converting into an annual cropping system vs a cow-calf ranching system. We have received lots of positive feedback about our Term Conservation Easements program and have a list of landowners interested in placing one on their land.
When it comes to our Conservation Agreements, which are legal agreements between us and landowners to improve or maintain native grassland ecosystems, we have been crazy busy! Our agreements encompass everything from invasive weed management, to incorporating intensive grazing on tame grass to better managing native grass pastures and implementing it by using cross fencing and remote watering systems. We have numerous agreements signed and a few more in the works as well. We cannot thank Saskatchewan landowners and ranchers enough for all of their support and trust in our programming. Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming field day at the end of August! To learn more, please visit our website at www.ssgf.ca or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
|  | The SSGF has been busy working in the field to complete rangeland assessments on current and future projects! Photo credit: Marika Sherman | |
Stay tuned for news about our upcoming Native Prairie Speaker Series webinars! | |
Last Mountain Bird Observatory: 30 years of songbird monitoring in the prairies
Speaker: Jordan Rustad, Last Mountain Lake Bird Observatory
Thursday August 31st, 2023 at 12:00pm
Register here
More information
Please visit our Native Prairie Speaker Series webpage regularly for upcoming topics, dates, and registration details.
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NCC's Big Backyard Bioblitz
August 3-7, 2023
America's Grassland Conference
August 8-10, 2023
Cheyenne, WY
Saskatchewan Pasture Tour
August 9, 2023
Glaslyn, SK
Nature Saskatchewan's Conservation Awareness and Appreciation Supper
August 10, 2023
Wood Mountain Regional Park, SK
Canadian Beef Industry Conference
Aug 14-17, 2023
Calgary, AB
SaskOutdoors' Educator Tour
Aug 17-18, 2023
Manitou Beach, SK
NCC's Paddle for Nature
Aug 25-27, 2023
Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet
September 22-23, 2023
Indian Head, SK
Transboundary Grassland Partnership Workshop
December 6-7, 2023
Swift Current, SK
Native Prairie Restoration/ Reclamation Workshop
February 7-8, 2024
Saskatoon, SK
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2023/24 Education Programs:
Presenting Sponsors:
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Carolyn Gaudet, Editor, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Newsletter | |
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SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2023-2024 from:
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, North American Helium, Nutrien, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada, K+S youth+us, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Water Security Agency and Wildlife Habitat Canada.
SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges in-kind support for 2023-24 from:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 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 Region, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Bison Association, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Forage Council, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, SaskEnergy, SaskOutdoors, SaskPower, Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources.
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