Stepping up for nature: colla’beer’ation for conservation

Nokomis Craft Ales special edition (Photo by Jeff Allport)

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is pleased to announce a colla”beer”ation with Nokomis Craft Ales, a brewery located in the rural community of Nokomis, Saskatchewan, who are pouring out $0.50 per can to support NCC initiatives. The beer is available this month in stores throughout Saskatchewan.

In addition to brewing up some fun for an important cause, Nokomis Craft Ales is also celebrating its "Hoppy 9^th Anniversary," displayed on the front of the special edition cans. Flipping the can around reveals that grasslands, those incredible, endangered ecosystems, are getting their moment in the spotlight. These prairie wonders are crucial, not just for their breathtaking beauty and the species found in them, but also because they store billions of tonnes of carbon, filter our water and help lessen the effects of floods and droughts. So, go ahead, raise that can with pride, knowing that each sip supports the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its efforts to protect these landscapes.

Nokomis Craft Ales uses regionally grown ingredients to make its beer. In addition, the agricultural sector relies on wild pollinators for crop production. Grasslands provide nesting sites, refuge and food for a diverse community of wild pollinators and are essential to food security.

This partnership will bring awareness about and funding for Canada’s iconic Prairie grasslands — one of the world’s most endangered and least protected ecosystems. Over 80 per cent of them have been lost to conversion and human activity. Much of the remaining grasslands are owned or managed by livestock producers, with the majority being cattle ranchers. Sustainable ranching and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand. In addition, many community pastures, such as Wreford-Nokomis Pasture, located near Nokomis Craft Ales, include remarkable prairie landscapes that are managed by producer groups. Supporting local community pastures is important in ensuring the conservation of many of the plants and animals that make the Prairies unique. For more information, visit workinglandscapes.ca.

NCC recently launched the Prairie Grasslands Action Plan to conserve and restore more than 500,000 hectares by 2030 — an area six times the city of Calgary. This is equivalent to what we will lose if we don’t act now to protect the grasslands that remain. To learn more, visit prairiegrasslands.ca.

During these last few weeks of summer, stop by Nokomis Craft Ales or pick up a case of grasslands beer at a store near you. It’s a great way to support grassland conservation.

Quotes

“NCC and Nokomis Craft Ales are joining forces to raise awareness about the incredible prairie ecosystems we're lucky to have. We're saying 'cheers' to sustainability, biodiversity and the ranchers who nurture these lands. So, grab your Nokomis beer, and let's celebrate the beautiful landscapes, the remarkable wildlife and the crucial role grasslands play in our world.” – Cameron Wood, NCC’s Regional Director in Saskatchewan

“As a brewery deeply rooted in the heart of Saskatchewan, we know the value of grasslands and the importance of coming together to protect them. Our colla'beer'ation with NCC isn't just about crafting great beer; it's a celebration of nature and community. With every can we raise, we're giving a toast to the Prairies, to the wildlife that call them home and to those who steward these landscapes.” - Jeff Allport, Owner of Nokomis Craft Ales

Facts

• Grasslands are nature’s unsung heroes. Think of them as upside down forests, with 90 per cent of their biomass hidden underground in vast and deep root systems. They absorb and store billions of tonnes of carbon, keeping it fixed in the soil and helping to counter the effects of climate change.
• Grasslands trap and filter precious water resources on the Prairies, lessening both floods and droughts, and providing drinking water for thousands of communities.
• Grasslands host an astonishing variety of plants and wildlife, which are increasingly threatened by habitat loss. In fact, bird populations that rely on native grasslands have declined by nearly 90 per cent in Canada since 1970.
• Partnership is at the heart of the Prairie Grasslands Action Plan. Only with a whole-of-society approach can we hope to slow the loss. NCC is working with local communities and in collaboration with Indigenous Nations. It is partnering with industry, government and other conservation organizations to complete conservation projects on the ground. And it is advancing stewardship with ranchers, livestock producers and grazing groups to deliver solutions that ensure that grasslands remain a foundation for thriving communities.