Three areas in the Porcupine Hills region will now be protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Photo: Sean Feagan / NCC)

By David Opinko

Over 2,500 hectares to be conserved west of Claresholm

Nov 14, 2023 | 9:11 AM

PORCUPINE HILLS, AB – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) said it has acquired three significant parcels of land in southern Alberta.

They say three landowners have donated their properties in the Porcupine Hills region, totalling more than 2,500 hectares in size. According to the NCC, that is more than double the size of Nose Hill Park in Calgary and more than 4,000 CFL fields.

NCC Regional Vice-President Tom Lynch-Staunton said conserving land in this area underscores the shared responsibility of safeguarding Alberta’s natural heritage before it is too late.

“By working hand in hand with ranchers, we are not only conserving the breathtaking landscapes that define Alberta, but also helping to continue a legacy of stewardship dating back generations,” said Lynch-Staunton.

Each of the agreements will ensure the properties can continue to operate as a working landscapes for cattle grazing while maintaining their natural values.

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The NCC said in a media release that the Porcupine Hills represent a transitional zone between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, featuring “a unique combination of rolling grasslands, meandering creeks, and forests supporting many different plants and animals.”

The grasslands play a vital role in filtering water, sequestering carbon, protecting soil, and providing habitats and movement corridors for wildlife such as grizzly bears and elk.

The area is also some to several species that are considered species at risk, including limber pine (endangered), Sprague’s pipit (threatened), bull trout (threatened), and American badger (special concern).

Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said natural lands such as these are at risk of changing land use and development, and that conservation efforts are important for the environment.

“Through Government of Canada programs like the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, and the Ecological Gifts Program, we are making progress toward the goal of conserving a quarter of land and water in Canada by 2025, working toward 30 percent of each by 2030, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions through nature-based climate solutions,” said Guilbeault.

Since the 1990s, the NCC has been working to conserve lands in the Porcupine Hills, and will now manage more than 37,000 hectares in the region.

Three areas in the Porcupine Hills region will now be protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Photo: Sean Feagan / NCC)

Three areas in the Porcupine Hills region will now be protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Photo: Sean Feagan / NCC)

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