A partnership between property owners and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) will protect 323 hectares of grassland south of Cardston.
The property near Police Outpost Provincial Park is owned by the Bectell family, who the NCC says has been practicing sustainable cattle grazing there since 1917.
With the partnership, the land will still be used for cattle production while maintaining its ecological integrity.
“These grasslands have been here for thousands of years, and if we take care of them, they will continue to benefit wildlife and people. Our family would never want to see this property subdivided and turned into acreages. We’re pleased to know our land will remain intact and continue to be managed in the way we have done for generations,” says landowner Jeff Bectell.
Nearly 80 per cent of the land is prairie grassland and the NCC points out cattle can have a similar impact as bison historically did for the ecosystem. The property is also home to several species considered to be at risk, including ferruginous hawk, grizzly bear, horned grebe and American badger.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts. The Bectell family’s commitment to protecting their land and its environmental values will undoubtedly leave a legacy. Yet again, stewardship-minded ranchers in Alberta are helping lead us toward our nation’s ambitious conservation goals,” says Tom Lynch-Staunton, regional vice president, Nature Conservancy of Canada
The project was possible because of the Bectell family, along with private donors, the federal and provincial government and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.