SASKATCHEWAN PROCLAIMS NATIVE PRAIRIE APPRECIATION WEEK 2004

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman has proclaimed June 20th to 26th as Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW).

Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada with a week dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of native prairie, which is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada. The week-long observance was initiated by the Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) in 1999.

Only 17 per cent of the original grassland habitat remains in Saskatchewan and remaining prairie is threatened by several factors, including tillage, urban expansion, industrial activity and exotic species invasion. The reduction of native prairie is of concern to many sectors of society, including environmentalists, the ranching industry and outdoor enthusiasts.

"Saskatchewan is fortunate enough to have some of the largest tracts of contiguous native grasslands in the nation," Wartman said. "Saskatchewan's rangelands are a tremendous economic, environmental and aesthetic asset to the province and ranchers deserve credit for their stewardship of them."

"Stewardship and co-operation are the keys to preserving our native prairie ecosystems," Environment Minister David Forbes said. "We need to work to keep our water pure, our air clean and our land unspoiled -- and we need to be willing to take action. Everyone, whether they live in the city or the country, can play a stewardship role by helping with conservation initiatives carried out by agriculture, industry, government, conservation groups or local communities."

The Discovering the Moose Mountains Workshop and Field Tour will be held during Native Prairie Appreciation Week. It features presenters and field tours and will bring together ranchers, naturalists, hunters, educators and resource agency specialists to celebrate the diverse values of native prairie. Information and registrations are available from the PCAP office or on the web site at www.pcap-sk.org. Workshop sponsors include the Society for Range Management, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, Saskatchewan Environment, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture, and PCAP.

Saskatchewan's 2003-2008 PCAP addresses conservation and management issues of native aquatic and terrestrial habitats within Saskatchewan's Prairie Ecozone. This action plan is driven by a diverse partnership chaired by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association. The partnership features representation from industry, federal and provincial agricultural and conservation agencies, non-government organizations, and Saskatchewan's two universities. The vision of PCAP partners is that the native prairie be sustained in a healthy state in which natural and human values are respected.

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For More Information, Contact:

Karyn Scalise Prairie Conservation Action Plan Regina Phone: (306)352-0472

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-4031