Nature Conservancy of Canada announces permanent conservation of Sagebrush Flats near Medicine Hat

“Families, local supporters, and businesses all played a role in making this happen. Their leadership helps keep our grasslands intact and healthy, and gives the endangered wildlife that rely on them a real chance.”

The property provides important habitat for greater sage-grouse, one of Canada’s most endangered bird species.

The large ground-dwelling birds rely on undisturbed sagebrush grasslands for nesting and feeding, but populations in Alberta have declined by nearly 98 per cent since the 1960s.

The site also supports several other federally listed species at risk, including Sprague’s pipit, ferruginous hawk, chestnut-collared longspur, common nighthawk and long-billed curlew.

The area falls within the Sage Creek Important Bird Area, serving as part of a broader wildlife corridor used by migrating pronghorn and other grassland species.

Conservation officials say protecting the land also preserves important environmental benefits for the region.

The NCC says that grasslands can store up to 180 tonnes of carbon per hectare, making them one of Alberta’s most effective natural carbon sinks, capable of storing large amounts of carbon in soils and root systems. The ecosystems also help to stabilize soil, reduce runoff and maintain water quality.

The NCC adds that the project builds on years of stewardship by the previous landowner, who maintained the property through grazing and sustainable land management practices.

The land will continue to support cattle grazing under managed conditions, which conservation officials say plays an important role in maintaining healthy prairie ecosystems.

Additional stewardship measures planned for the property include wildlife-friendly fencing designed to improve movement for species such as pronghorn and reduce collisions for birds like the greater sage-grouse.

The conservation effort was supported through the federal government’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, along with contributions from private organizations and conservation partners.

Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said the project supports both biodiversity conservation and climate goals.

“Protecting Sagebrush Flats is an important step in advancing Canada’s efforts to address climate change and conserve our natural landscapes,” Dabrusin said in a statement.

“With support from the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund and the leadership of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we are safeguarding intact grasslands that store carbon, sustain working landscapes, and help build more resilient communities across the Prairies.”

The NCC says it continues to work with landowners, ranchers and community partners across Alberta to conserve ecologically significant landscapes while supporting rural economies and sustainable land use.

by Jesse Gill

Nature Conservancy of Canada announces permanent conservation of Sagebrush Flats near Medicine Hat

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