Endangered native grasslands conserved near Canada-US border
Special ranch with long history to be protected
A significant block of native Prairie Grasslands in the southern-most point of Alberta is now being conserved. Boundary Creek couple Colleen and Dale Adams have signed an agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). It means their 128 hectare (315 acre) cattle ranch will remain a working landscape while spared from any future subdivision, drainage or cultivation.
The Adams Ranch boasts spectacular views and is located about six kilometres north of the Alberta – United States border and faces the Rocky Mountains. With a lot of competition for land in the area, the family wanted to ensure this cattle grazing site and haven for wildlife remains unspoiled. And they hope their decision will encourage other landowners to preserve their land in partnership with organizations like NCC to ensure the land will always be available for wildlife and sustainable ranching.
Over 80 per cent of the original, native Prairie Grasslands in Canada’s prairies have been lost to other uses so NCC along with many partners are in a race to protect the best of what is left. This conservation project was made possible thanks to the vision of Dale and Colleen Adams. It was also generously supported by many private donors, the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, along with the Weston Family Foundation.
The site has been operated as a cattle ranch for nearly 100 years. Dale Adams has worked on ranch lands for over four decades and manages the property with his wife Colleen who recently retired as a registered nurse. They have 70 cattle on the site which help keep the grasslands healthy through grazing, and it serves as an important link to other nearby lands that together allow a connected corridor for wildlife movement. The Adams Ranch is home to elk, moose, deer, grizzly bear (11 this year) along with black bear, coyotes. Boundary Creek and several other creeks run through the property, providing habitat for many waterfowl and aquatic species.
Quotes
“Working on the lands is the only thing I know! There are a lot of recreational pressures on lands in this area. At this rate, there won’t be many of the wild grasslands left so it makes us feel real good knowing that it will stay a ranch forever. Having it preserved and never cut up into acreage or subdivision was our goal. This is a place where you can relax. The view is incredible and makes this area very special. This whole project with NCC has been great”.
Dale Adams, landowner
“The Nature Conservancy of Canada applauds Dale and Colleen Adams for their vision and collaboration along with our funding partners who helped make this project happen. It reinforces how cattle ranching and conservation can and does co-exist. By working together, we can support working landscapes and local livelihoods for today and future generations of ranchers while protecting endangered, temperate Prairie grasslands and the species at risk that rely on them.”
Tom Lynch-Staunton, Alberta Vice President, Nature Conservancy of Canada
Facts
- This is the second conservation agreement involving the Adams family and NCC. Another 64 hectare (158 acre) site is being protected on Shanks Lake, south of Magrath.
- This project exemplifies a dedicated commitment to safeguarding grasslands under NCC’s Prairie Grasslands Action Plan — a comprehensive strategy aimed at conserving more than 500,000 hectares by 2030. This is an area six times the size of Calgary and equivalent to what we will lose if we don’t act now to protect the grasslands that remain. Learn more about how you can take action to care for Canada’s iconic Prairie grasslands at prairiegrasslands.ca.
- In advance of the United Nations’ biodiversity and climate conferences this fall, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) are hosting the world’s conservation leaders in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, from October 16 to 18, at the 2024 Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network, presented by RBC. Under the theme “Resilient landscapes for a resilient world,” civic and private land conservation experts from six continents will share resources and chart a path to achieve the global target of conserving 30 per cent of the planet’s lands and waters by 2030. This target is what nature needs if we’re to protect biodiversity on Earth and safeguard communities from the impacts of climate change.
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique partnership that supports the creation and recognition of protected and conserved areas through the acquisition of private land and private interest in land. To date, the Government of Canada has invested $470 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $982 million in contributions raised by Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the country’s land trust community leading to the protection and conservation of over 840,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.
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