IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY:

GOAL II: TO CONSERVE THE REMAINING PRAIRIE RESOURCE

Objective	Actions (Rankings) (LEAD AND SUPPORTING PARTNERS as in 2003-2008 PCAP)	Timetable	Partner Update and contact information
1. Complete and maintain an inventory of native prairie.	a) Acquire and interpret the most recent land cover and soils maps for southern Saskatchewan (update 2001 NPSS/CPRC publication). Ranking: Partner Update # 4: POOR Partner Update # 5: 2 Partner Update #6: 2 (AAFC-PFRA, EC-CWS, NPSS, SE, SWA, UofR-CPRC) b) Identify areas of high risk for drainage or destruction. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: FAIR Partner Update # 5: 2 Partner Update #6: 2 (DFO, DUC, EC-CWS, NCC, SE, SWA)	2005 - 2010 2005-2006 2005 1998 - 2003 2001-2004 February 2002 2004-2005 2005 Since 2004	AAFC-PFRA National Land & Water Information System is coordinating the bulk purchase of high resolution satellite imagery which will cover all of the agriculture land in Canada. Prairies will be the first set acquired. Acquisition will take 2-5 years to complete. Updated land cover classification for SK and AB should be available March 2007; Contract for acquisition of high resolution panchromatic satellite imagery for SK will hopefully be in place by end of March 2006; new aerial photo acquisition planned for SK, dependant on securing long term funding from Partners for this 5 year project. Partners are AAFC-PFRA, EC, DFO, PC, Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), and Canadian Space Agency. Agreement to allow fairly free access. NRCAN leads the partnership in purchasing medium resolution imagery for the entire landmass of Canada; to be completed by 2010; this product will be released to the public 90 days after acquisition (contact Ophelia Degenais). SAF, Lands Branch is working on a GPS/GIS Initiative that aims to integrate global positioning systems (GPS) data collection by Lands Branch field staff with geographic information systems (GIS) capabilities in SAF and other departments and corporations in Regina. Part of this study examines how the spatial and pictorial files can be tied to the Crown Land Management System (CLMS) (contact Bob Drysdale). DUC evaluated the efficiency of existing landcover/biophysical inventories to deliver an acreage based conservation program.  Though their work they determined that feature sizes, currency, and thematic accuracy of existing land cover data did not meet program technical requirements. DUC decided to build its own inventory to meet program specifications utilizing the relatively new SPOT 5 MSS platform combined with object based classification techniques; DUC classified the natural lands necessary for program delivery.   The resulting inventory met program functional requirements and as such facilitated the successful delivery of the Tax Credit Pilot.  The technical experience with object based classification combined with a better understanding of the SPOT 5 spectral characteristics in a prairie environment has broader implications for future land cover program development (contact DUC- Lyle Boychuk). DUC has been monitoring habitat transects to determine loss of native prairie, bush and wetlands. It is important to note that each year habitat loss is occurring (contact Richard McBride). EC-CWS is updating its habitat monitoring transect network across SK and the Prairies. Land cover and land use are being monitored for both upland and wetland habitat. The baseline data was collected in 1985 and a subset of it was updated in 1999. The remaining transects are being monitored to identify habitat change and land use trends in the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) area. These updates will provide estimates of wetland and upland habitat losses as well as land use trends across the sampled landscapes (contact Ron Bennett). EC-CWS produced a report entitled ‘PHJV Habitat Monitoring Program Phase I: Recent Habitat Trends’ outlining the results of the first phase of an ongoing evaluation of habitat trends within PHJV target areas, and establishing a foundation for a long-term habitat monitoring program (contact Diana Ghikas). AAFC-PFRA, EC-CWS, DUC, SAF, SE and other groups worked to produce a biodiversity scan for the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). This scan determined the areas of SK most at risk for the loss of biodiversity. This scan included both riparian risk and wetland risk assessment (contact Greg Riemer-SE, Ophelia Dagnais- AAFC-PFRA and Lyle Boychuk DUC). SWA is summarizing existing drainage and complaint data to determine the contribution this data may make in identifying where wetland drainage has occurred and is ongoing. SWA has developed drainage plans for some Conservation & Development areas. In 2005 SWA is collecting expert knowledge and opinion from SWA field staff about the location and intensity of wetland drainage activities (contact Glen McMaster).
	c) Coordinate the development of land information data bases as tools for landowner negotiation, extension and technology transfer. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: POOR Partner Update # 5: 2 Partner Update #6: 3 (AAFC-PFRA, EC-CWS, FNACS, NCC, NPSS, PC-GNP, SE, SWA, UofR-CPRC)	Since 2000 2005-2008	EC-CWS provides funding through the HSP to various PCAP Partners for the development of land information and assessment databases, such as those for piping plovers and burrowing owls, to guide landowner stewardship activities (contact Diana Ghikas). SE has created a Geomatics Services Unit to coordinate GIS and landsat data. Plans are to make information available to partners by 2008 (contact Kevin Murphy).
2. Continue to develop a system of managed conservation areas.	a) Work towards completion of the RAN in the Prairie Ecozone. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: GOOD Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 3 SE, All	Since 1997 2005 March 2006 2005	SE has incorporated > 5.8 Million hectares of ecologically important lands into the RAN in partnership with the following: AAFC-PFRA, DND, DUC, EC-CWS, PCS, SE-FWDF, SWA and SWF. The RAN includes AAFC and SAF pastures, federal and provincial parks, FWDF lands and land included under the Ecological Reserves Act and the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (contact Conrad Olson). · SE, thru the FWDF, has partnered in 1,699 acres of titled habitat lands and 25,346 acres of CEs in southern SK at a cost to the FWDF of $947,181.  Of this amount, DUC added 12,172.6 acres in CEs and 548.3 acres in land purchase (contact Andrew Hak). SE reports that Saskatchewan has just ratified the Southern Conservation Lands Policy which is developed around existing government policy to protect and to restore habitat in Southern SK. It targets areas of the province where 12% of any landscape unit are not protected by the RAN. This policy provides the basis for an exemption under the Saskatchewan Farm Security Act for Conservation organisations to purchase land and conservation easements (contact Greg Riemer). SE established an ecological reserve was established in the Great Sand Hills, covering 141 square miles (contact Ann Riemer).
	b) Identify and ensure that areas which are a priority for conservation receive protection. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: FAIR Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 3?? (DFO, DUC, EC-CWS, FNACS, NCC, SE, SWF)	Since 1995 Since 1995 Since 2002 2005 Since 2003 Since 2002 March 2006	DUC has prioritized conservation actions for waterfowl based on waterfowl populations of 1975 and projects were implemented in high priority areas including the Allan Hills, the Missouri Coteau, and the southeast and east central portions of SK (contact Michael Champion). EC-CWS assists, through the HSP and the EGP, in the acquisition and conservation of native prairie habitat areas important for species-at-risk and overall biodiversity conservation (contact Diana Ghikas). NCC uses ecoregional planning and site conservation planning in identifying priority areas for conservation when possible. The Aspen Parkland/Moist Mixed Grassland Ecoregional Plan is nearly complete and an update of the Northern Mixed Grassland Ecoregional Plan was undertaken in 2005-06 (contact Jordan Ignatiuk). SE has begun to develop a framework to target habitat acquisitions as part of the conservation lands strategy being developed by government and ENGOs (contact Greg Riemer SE). SE and EC-CWS work within the Environmental Farm Planning process to conduct a Risk to Biodiversity Scan to rank landscapes with the highest risks to biodiversity (contact Greg Riemer-SE or Diana Ghikas – EC-CWS). SWA has prioritized conservation actions for grassland birds in each ecodistrict based on delineation of Grassland Bird Conservation Areas. Projects were implemented in high priority areas (contact Jennifer Lohmeyer). In March 2006, SE reported that the Southern Conservation Lands policy (see 2,2a – above) had been ratified. The policy provides for native species re-vegetation in areas of the province with little remaining native habitat (contact Greg Riemer).
3. Encourage voluntary stewardship to conserve native prairie.	a) Support private stewardship programs that involve landowner extension work. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: GOOD Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 3 (AAFC-PFRA, DFO, DUC, EC-CWS, FNACS, NCC, NS, PCAP, SAF, SBOIC, SE, SWA, SWF) See also: Goal 1, Objective 1 (Promote grazing programs that are based on economically and scientifically sound principles) and Goal 3, Objective 2 (Promote management of native prairie to maintain biological diversity) for related activities.	Since November 2003 Since 1995 2004 - 2005 2005-2006 Since 2000 Since 1987 2005 Since 2003 2005 Since 2002 2005 Since 1998 2002-2004 Since 2003 Since 1998 2005-2006 (Since 1997) 2002-2003 2005-2006 2003 (Since 1976) Since 1978	DFO’s Stewardship in Action Initiative is in its fourth year in providing funding to support prairie community initiatives that promote an ethic of ownership and responsibility to protect, maintain and restore freshwater fish and fish habitat on a watershed level. Funding was awarded to numerous groups throughout the prairies area (AB, SK, MB), including PCAP, for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 projects (contact Rick West). EC-CWS continues to provide funding, direction and leadership support for private stewardship initiatives through programs such as the HSP, EGP, EcoAction Community Funding Program and Canada’s Stewardship Agenda (contact Diana Ghikas). NS published a study (Environmental Management: 2004; Blue Jay - summary: 2005) that determined grasslands enrolled in a voluntary stewardship program (Operation Burrowing Owl) retained significantly more habitat as grassland (66%) than parcels not participating in the program (49%) (grassland not retained was cultivated). Grassland types most at risk of cultivation in the Regina Plain were identified (good soils and smaller parcels) and are targeted along with others in its Stewards of Saskatchewan stewardship programs (contact Margaret Skeel). NS's Stewards of Saskatchewan (Operation Burrowing Owl & Shrubs for Shrikes) program and SWA jointly deliver a habitat enhancement program, involving perennial cover seeding, fencing, alternate water development, and shrub planting for shrikes, to enlarge and improve pastures for wildlife species. In 2005, 14 enhancement projects (13 for owls and 1 for shrikes & owls) were completed, totalling 1,825 acres with 3.75 miles of fencing in 2005, for a year-to-date total of 71 projects with 10,248 acres  sown back to perennial cover, 36 miles of fence installed and 5 remote solar watering sites developed since 2000 (contact Margaret Skeel – NS or Jennifer Lohmeyer - SWA). NS's Operation Burrowing Owl (OBO) program works with over 450 landowners who voluntarily conserve approximately 63,000 ha (152,000 acres) of pastureland throughout southern SK for burrowing owl habitat.  Approximately 250 of these participants are conserving native prairie pastures.  Of the 63,000 hectares, 23,000 are on private lands and nearly 40,000 hectares are on public lands. OBO encourages voluntary stewardship through a handshake agreement and recognition for landowners (contact Margaret Skeel). NS’s Shrubs For Shrikes (SFS) program, modelled on OBO, works with landowners who voluntarily conserve pastureland and shrubs throughout southern SK for loggerhead shrikes. In 2005 13 landowners that conserve 1464 acres (592 ha) joined the program for a total of 26 landowners that conserve 2,100 acres (850 ha) of shrike habitat (contact Michelle Yaskowich). NS’s Rare Plant Rescue, a voluntary stewardship program, encourages landowners to conserve native prairie containing (or with potential to contain) rare and/or endangered plant species. In 2005, 6 landowners that conserve 960 acres (384 ha) joined the program for a total of 63 landowners that are conserving 16,480 acres (6,592 ha) of native prairie (contact Tara Sample). NS’s Living by Water Project offers support to shoreline residents of rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs, including workshops and educational materials. In 2005, 5 workshops (in Saskatoon, and at Christopher & Emma, Big Shell, Last Mountain and Turtle Lakes), and 4 presentations (in Shellbrook, Redberry Lake, Turtleford and Cut Knife) were delivered for a total of 73 workshops and presentations in SK (contact Margaret Skeel). NS’s Wood River Riparian Project, part of the Important Bird Areas program, supported seeding land adjacent to the River to perennial cover. 16 landowners were involved and 1,780 acres seeded, in addition to 4 miles of fencing and 2 remote solar water sites installed (contact Margaret Skeel). RSM has set the stage for a private stewardship group in the Frenchman watershed by fostering local coordination of the Frenchman River Biodiversity Project and emphasizing the links between native prairie conservation and water quality (contact Glenn Sutter). SE continues to support stewardship programs like the Prairie Stewardship program of SWA and the Souris River and Farm Protection Program of HELP International (contact Conrad Olson). SWA manages the Prairie Stewardship Program that provides extension to over 1,361 landowners who have made voluntary stewardship agreements to conserve over 647,000 acres of native prairie, 477 miles of streams, and over 23,100 acres of wetlands. In 2005-2006, 104 landowners who conserve over 63,700 acres of native prairie, 163 miles of streams and 3,070 acres of wetlands joined the Program (contact Jennifer Lohmeyer - SWA). SWA, with funding support from DFO, managed the Prairie Watercare Program, an educational, hands-on program for volunteers interested in learning about water quality issues in their local watershed (contact Jennifer Lohmeyer). SWF, with SE-FWDF, EcoAction and BP Canada, rejuvenated its Wildlife Tomorrow program (formerly Acres for Wildlife) in 2003. In 2004-2005, SWF recruited 415 voluntary landowner stewards that conserve 35,690 acres of habitat. A total of 2,228 participants who conserve over 197,515 acres of habitat are enrolled in the program. Participants agree not to spray, clear, drain, or cultivate for a period of 5 years (contact Jim Kroshus). SWFs Habitat Trust fund holds title to over 55,000 acres of land in SK. SWF works with groups including DUC, NS, RMEF, and Pheasants Forever to secure habitat through fee title purchase or fee title donation. Since 1980 SWFs Habitat Trust Hide Collection Program, operated by 127 SWF Branches has raised over $1M (contact Jim Kroshus).
	b) Develop a landowner stewardship program directory. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: FAIR-GOOD Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 5 COMPLETE (DFO, EC-CWS, PCAP, SSGA, SWA, SWF)	April 2003 Spring 2004	SWA, DFO, SWF, PCAP, with partial funding support from EC-HSP, completed the “Conservation Program Directory” which can be downloaded from www.snows.sk.ca/conservationprograms.pdf (contact Jennifer Lohmeyer). SWF developed a Conservation Directory to help the 127 SWF Branches educate landowners in their communities about conservation programs offered by various groups (contact Jim Kroshus).
4. Ensure that the remaining native prairie is protected from cultivation and development.	a) Maintain the Crown’s commitment to conserving native prairie under its control, excluding prior commitments and promises made. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: GOOD Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 4 (DUC, SAF, SE, SSGA)	March 2005 Since 2001 2006-2007 (proposed completion) 2004 Fall 2001 March 2006 2005-2006	AAFC-PFRA compiled a database for Species At Risk on Community Pastures, which is digitized as a GIS layer. It is being used as a management tool to assess development proposals on AAFC-PFRA Community Pastures (contact Bill Bristol). DUC encourages the Provincial and Federal governments to keep Crown lands in the Crown whenever possible, and to protect valuable habitat through perpetual CE’s whenever Crown land is to be divested. This initiative has focused on partnership with SAF, SE, and other stakeholders of Crown lands (contact Chuck Deschamps). SAF is working on the Grand Cheviot Land Use Plan. The area consists of a large block of Crown land comprised of native prairie, parkland, range land, oil and gas sites and historical areas (contact Don Fontaine). SAF added 75 sections of native prairie into the Mankota pasture as part of a transfer and land purchase by GNP from a Crown land lease holder. This created one contiguous parcel of land which enhances the value and improves the integrity of the parcels (contact Rick Ashton). SAF Lands Branch added a clause to Crown Land lease agreements that prohibits, unless approved by the Minister, the cultivation of any naturally vegetated area including native prairie, riparian areas, and dry lake beds (contact Mary Brick). SE reports that the Southern Conservation Lands Policy is based upon the vast amount of Crown land protected to date and spells out clearly that conservation lands have a place in the rural landscape (contact Greg Riemer). SAF Lands Branch continues to develop policy to help guide their actions. Further policy development is on hold pending an overall Crown Land Strategy (contact Mary Brick).
	b) Review all Crown land proposed sales involving native prairie and register CEs where appropriate. Ranking: Partner Update # 4: GOOD Partner Update # 5: 3 Partner Update #6: 3 (DUC, SAF, SE, SSGA)	2005 2005-2006 (Since 1999) Since 2002 Since 2001 Since 1999	SAF and other agencies that hold CEs are reviewing the criteria for placing CEs on Crown land prior to sale to ensure that land with important attributes worthy of protection are not missed (contact Mary Brick). SAF holds 66 CEs on approximately 7,268 acres of private land In 2005, 7 of 29 crown parcels sold with a CE. SAF modified their CE policy for tender sales to require a CE on all parcels with >40 acres of native habitat (contiguous or non-contiguous). SE and DUC review parcels less than 40 acres and use provincial initiatives as a guide for CE recommendations (i.e RAN, NAWMP). In 2004-2005, 6 parcels of land were sold with a CE. In 2003-2004, 17 parcels of land were sold with a CE. SAF Lands Branch uses CEs as a method of protecting native prairie prior to Crown Land tender sales (contact Mary Brick). SAF Lands Branch continues to develop a CE policy to help guide the CE process on Crown Land. Finalization of the policy awaits a review of criteria used for placing CEs on Crown Land. The CE policy is on hold pending a overall Crown Land Strategy (contact Mary Brick). SAF Lands Branch & SE co-chair a Committee that formulates criteria for placing CEs on Crown land. The Committee is also examining the potential for including other uses on WHPA land that will not jeopardize the conservation of native prairie biodiversity (contact Mary Brick – SAF or Conrad Olson – SE). SAF Lands Branch and SE biologists work on the pre-identification of Crown Lands worthy of a CE designation according to the following criteria: 1) Attributes: native grassland; native aspen; endangered species areas; edge effect areas; buffer zones; wetlands; special breeding habitat (e.g. leks, nesting sites, calving grounds) 2) Size of Parcels: parcels > 40 acres in the Aspen Parkland Eco-Region; parcels > 80 acres within all other Eco-Regions; any parcel, regardless of size, in any region containing attributes worthy of protecting (contact Mary Brick).