Exciting news for grasslands near Swift Current, home to remarkable species including Saskatchewan’s provincial bird

Sharp-tailed grouse mating lek discovered on-site at Cave Pasture property

A large piece of grassland in southwestern Saskatchewan is now protected. The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Cave Pasture conservation project is located immediately adjacent to the city of Swift Current. It contains 286 hectares of grasslands, wetlands and shoreline habitat. Prairie grasslands are one of the rarest and most at-risk ecosystems in the world, making their conservation crucial to the well-being of Saskatchewan.

Grasslands play a pivotal role in filtering our water, mitigating floods and droughts, and storing carbon, and have provided sustenance for humans for thousands of years. Conserving grasslands provides effective solutions to counter the challenges of rapid biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change.  

The Cave Pasture property and the surrounding area serve as a refuge for numerous species, including the iconic sharp-tailed grouse, which holds the prestigious title of Saskatchewan’s provincial bird. Populations of sharp-tailed grouse are declining about five per cent each year since 1968, mostly due to habitat loss. A noteworthy highlight at the property is the presence of a large and active sharp-tailed grouse mating lek, signifying the area's importance for their breeding and conservation.

During property visits, NCC staff observed a thriving ecosystem, with a significant number of waterfowl, including seven different species of ducks and several Canada geese. The area also provides habitat for wildlife listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, including loggerhead shrike (threatened), Sprague’s pipit (threatened), lesser yellowlegs (threatened) and long-billed curlew (special concern). Birds offer numerous benefits to people, contributing to our physical and mental well-being, as well as helping with pollination, pest control and seed dispersal. Birders also have a direct impact on the economy as they spend money on travel and equipment across communities where birding is ideal.

The tangible effects of such conservation efforts are magnified by the generosity of donors. As NCC strives to protect and nurture natural landscapes, every contribution plays a pivotal role. Donations help NCC obtain match funding from the federal government and other partners. The Government of Canada is a major funding contributor through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, as well as through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. The Government of Saskatchewan also provided support through the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund.

The Cave Pasture conservation project exemplifies a dedicated commitment to safeguarding grasslands under NCC’s Prairie Grasslands Action Plan — a comprehensive strategy aimed to conserve 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.

Quotes

“Cave Pasture is one of the few remaining areas of native grassland that can be found in the areas surrounding Swift Current. Due to its proximity to the city, this land was at high risk of development and conversion. I am thrilled that NCC was able to conserve this piece of an increasingly rare ecosystem for the benefit and enjoyment of the residents of Swift Current and the wide variety of species that are found there.” – Michael Burak, Program Director in southwest Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy of Canada

“Although the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution all have unique obstacles to overcome, we must tackle them together. By working with partners such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we are helping to protect the natural environment in Saskatchewan and across the country. Protecting grasslands, wetlands, and shorelines threatened with conversion plays a vital role in helping to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by providing natural climate solutions, such as helping to reduce flooding and greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the Government of Canada is making progress toward its goal of conserving a quarter of land and water in Canada by 2025, working toward 30 percent of each by 2030.” – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Facts

• The Prairie Grasslands Action Plan is a cross-country, $500-million campaign to conserve 500,000 hectares by the end of 2030.
• Partnership is at the heart of the plan. Only with a whole-of-society approach can we hope to slow the loss of Prairie grasslands. NCC is working with local communities and in collaboration with Indigenous Nations on a multitude of projects. We are partnering with industry, government and other conservation organizations to complete conservation projects on the ground. And we are advancing stewardship with ranchers, livestock producers and grazing groups to deliver solutions that ensure that grasslands remain a foundation for thriving communities. 
• Grasslands and the wetlands within them are important stopovers for migratory birds. They also provide habitat for waterfowl and imperilled species. Unless we act now to conserve and care for the remaining grasslands, at-risk species, including burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk and swift fox, won’t survive.
• Grasslands’ deep, sprawling root networks store vast amounts of carbon beneath the soil surface. These roots help keep soil in place too, enabling grasslands to collect and retain moisture. During rain runoff or snow melt, water is collected and stored by its roots and absorbed into the soil, rather than flowing rapidly into lakes and rivers and causing erosion damage. 
• The agricultural sector relies on wild pollinators to produce nutritional and economic benefits for people. Grasslands provide nesting sites, refuge and food for a diverse community of wild pollinators.
• Disturbances, such as grazing and fire, help restore and maintain the health of grasslands. Grazing and fire also create a mosaic of habitats across the grasslands, providing suitable conditions for a greater variety of plants and animals. Some species need shorter grass to survive, while others need longer grass.

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 Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.

The Government of 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 more than $440 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $870 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 more than 700,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.

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