Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud and Environment Minister Nancy Heppner have jointly proclaimed June 20 to 26 as Saskatchewan's 12th Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week.
Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW), the only week in North America that is dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of native grasslands, began in 1999 by the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP). The week provides an opportunity for Saskatchewan residents, especially ranchers, naturalists, hunters and educators, to recognize and celebrate the value of native prairie ecosystems and their importance to Saskatchewan's provincial, agricultural and environmental sectors."Saskatchewan's livestock industry is to be congratulated for their sustainable management of native prairie ecosystems," Bjornerud said. "As a result of their efforts, native prairie is a valuable resource that will continue to make a contribution for generations to come."
"Saskatchewan's ranchers have been long-time stewards of Saskatchewan's native prairie," Heppner said. "Their sustainable use of this valuable resource has led to the conservation of native biodiversity and the maintenance of the ecological goods and services it provides down through the history of the cattle industry. The long-term care of this shared resource should be celebrated and the partnership of ranchers, landowners, governments and environmental organizations enhanced with a continuing focus on the future, particularly when considering the habitat needs for species at risk."
"Ranchers sometimes ask 'why are all of these people so concerned about our grass?'
Other folk may ask 'what are the ranchers doing to take care of the prairie?'" PCAP Chair Ray McDougald and a rancher from Maple Creek said. "This is your opportunity to find out in a casual setting, as the week unfolds and brings together people of many disciplines, all very willing to share their knowledge of the prairie."
The week will be highlighted by the Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter's workshop and field tour, "Ranching from the Ground Up" to be held June 23 and 24, based out of Swift Current. The workshop presentations and tours will emphasize and showcase local ranchers and their operations featuring topics on species at risk, native prairie grazing techniques, fire ecology, native plant identification, water monitoring/corral relocation projects, impacts of oil and gas development on native prairie, producer rights and reclamation.
For more information, please visit PCAP's website at www.pcap-sk.orgor contact the PCAP office at 306-352-0472 or [email protected].
