Video of the Belly River conservation site. (Courtesy Brent Calver)

By Justin Goulet

Belly River Property

Nature Conservancy secures land near Waterton for conservation

Dec 3, 2021 | 5:23 AM

WATERTON PARK, AB – The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has announced the securement of the Belly River property.

The move expands the NCC’s existing network of protected conservation lands adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park. The 43-hectare property is adjacent to 800 metres of the Belly River, which offers habitat for birds, amphibians and fish.

The property includes many habitats that extend past the boundaries of the already protected national park. The region provides core habitat for populations of various animals, including wolves, cougars, wolverines, Canada lynx and their prey.

It also supports habitat for grizzly bears, designated as a species of special concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. Additionally, two-thirds of the Belly River property is native grasslands, which are home to 85 per cent of Alberta’s species at risk.

The property borders existing NCC-owned lands to the west and south and is close to other conservation projects. The NCC noted that since 1998, it has helped to conserve more than 18,000 hectares surrounding Waterton Lakes National Park, thanks to donors, foundations and governments.

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An image of the conservation site. (Photo: Brent Calver)

This particular project was made possible with funding from the federal government’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program, which is part of Canada’s Nature Fund.

Regional Vice-President of the NCC, Tom Lynch-Staunton said, “the Nature Conservancy of Canada is proud to announce the conservation of the Belly River property.”

“This ranch, located outside of Waterton Lakes National Park, adds to a significant conservation network of protected lands that has been built up over decades. This project is an example of how working landscapes and conservation go hand in hand.”

The area serves as important habitat for many animals. (Photo: Brent Calver)

The NCC said that each working ranch covered in this region helps out the ranching community, native wildlife and Alberta’s headwaters. The NCC’s latest announcement will assist in conserving water quality, flood mitigation and the maintenance of an important watershed along Alberta’s southern foothills.

Aerial view of the Belly River area. (Photo: Brent Calver)

Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault said, “by working with partners like the Nature Conservancy of Canada, we are protecting our natural environment in Alberta and across the country.”

“Protecting and conserving more of Canada’s natural beauty is an important part of our plan to address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Through programs like the Canada Nature Fund’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program, we are making progress toward conserving a quarter of Canada’s land and a quarter of its oceans by 2025.”

Public access to the Belly River property is yet to be determined. Anyone wishing to visit conservation lands in the area can visit connect2nature.ca to find sites that are open for access.