Selling of crown native grassland wrong

EDITOR:

Dear Premier Jason Kenney,

I am writing to you on behalf of our membership to oppose the sale of Crown native grasslands in the Taber area (reported in the media including in March 20 Prairie Post West).

Native grasslands in southern Alberta are cherished and valued by local citizens and organizations. They have been protected for many decades by previous provincial and federal governments. The Alberta government Regional Land Use Plan (2017 to 2024) recommends protection, conservation and stewardship of Alberta’s native grasslands on Crown and private lands. They are of particular value to ranchers whose livelihoods depend on healthy native grasslands.

You may be aware that a previous plan to sell Crown native grasslands for potato cultivation by private interests was not well received by many Albertans. Within the past decade, the government has cancelled request-to-purchase applications and prevented grazing leases from being sold. There are economical alternatives available including the purchase or leasing of dry land or irrigation cultivated land (crop and tame pasture). The rationale was simple. Native grasslands already provide economic value and public benefits. Some of them can be quantified and assigned a dollar value; for example carbon storage, erosion control, pollinator sustenance, and clean water.

Other benefits, such as opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. are more difficult to express numerically.

From an ecological perspective, up to 70 % of the endangered species in southern Alberta are found in native grasslands, including those in the Taber area. They benefit, and are in some cases essential to the survival of threatened species such as Ferruginous hawk, and endangered species such as the Burrowing Owl.

Our membership is gathering further information about the value of ecological goods and services provided by native grasslands. We are convinced that the long term benefits of conserving grasslands generally outweigh the short term benefits of sale and conversion to cropland.

Please understand that we do not oppose the use of small pieces of Crown land to support municipalities and their infrastructure needs. However, we believe the public interest is best served by conducting a full environmental assessment and open public hearings before any sale or change of status of this or other Crown lands is contemplated.

In addition, we are concerned that this land auction, which may appear to be small and insignificant, sets a dangerous precedent. We believe that the precedent should be one of conservation of our natural heritage, rather than its exploitation for economic or political purposes.

We strongly urge your government to reconsider plans to sell this Crown native grassland. If commercial agricultural production is a priority in the Taber area, other options need to be fully examined, including purchase or lease of privately owed cultivated land and/or tame pasture.

Thank you for your consideration. We would welcome an opportunity to discuss this matter further with you, your Ministers, or your government’s elected representatives.

HUGH ARMSTRONG, SOCIETY OF GRASSLANDS NATURALISTS

cc: MLA Michaela Glasgo, MLA Drew Barnes, Minister of Environment MLA Jason Nixon, and MLA Rachel Notley