聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 In Regina, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, a pilot partnership agreement was created between the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Lone Tree Community Pasture, which consists of 15 shareholders who graze 1,130 head of cattle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This agreement comes at the dissolution of Canada鈥檚 federal community pasture system, which saw 75 years of conservation management including 1.8 million acres across 62 federal community pastures being transferred from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to the Government of Saskatchewan.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now the NCC and Lone Tree will develop a way to navigate the future regarding management and long term conservation of these community pastures.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his historical and significant pilot agreement helps pave the way for community pasture patrons and conservation-minded organizations like NCC to work together,鈥� said Mark Wartman, Regional Vice President, NCC in Saskatchewan. 鈥淭he goal is to conserve grasslands through effective pasture management over the long term across southern Saskatchewan. By working together through this precedent-setting agreement, improved grasslands conservation can be achieved.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The agreement between the two entities will see NCC staff work alongside the Lone Tree pasture manager and shareholders 鈥渢o develop best practices for pasture management and long term land conservation,鈥� a press release from NCC reads.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淣CC will include the advice and best practices of Lone Tree鈥檚 management of the 33,697 acres of community pasture along with NCC conservation practices and techniques, and financially assist with the management of the pasture during 2015. This work may also help NCC guide the future conservation of other southern Saskatchewan community pastures and grasslands.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This will all be done while keeping a balanced step forward in livestock production and grassland conservation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 simple. We both [Lone Tree and NCC] want the same thing,鈥� explained Clint Christianson, spokesperson for Lone Tree community pasture shareholders. 鈥淲e want this land to be at least as healthy and functional well into the future! And I want my kids 鈥� and their children 鈥� to enjoy this land, just like it is now. Our partnership with NCC is a strong first step in reaching this goal.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately the NCC are looking to find the best pasture management practices possible through working alongside Lone Tree in order to develop conservation techniques to help 鈥渃onserve and sustain pasture grasslands similar to the Lone Tree pasture,鈥� NCC stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 management plan will be developed through face-to-face meetings with NCC staff, the Lone Tree pasture manager, and the Lone Tree shareholders prior to the 2015 grazing season. These best practices will be recorded, reviewed, revised and developed into a guide that can be shared with community pastures from Mankota to Midale, Valjean to Nokomis, McCraney to Good Spirit, and beyond.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For more information visit , find them on Twitter at twitter.com/NCC_CNC, or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/natureconservancy.ca.
