GREAT SAND HILLS SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED

The province is fulfilling another of its commitments to the future of the Great Sand Hills by establishing the Scientific Advisory Committee that will undertake a regional environmental study of the area.

The committee is headed by Dr. Reed Noss, a world-renowned expert in ecosystem management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Noss will serve as chief scientific advisor to the committee. Also on the team are Dr. Bram Noble from the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. David Gauthier and Dr. Harry Polo Diaz from the University of Regina and Dr. Paul James of Saskatchewan Environment.

"The Great Sand Hills area is a unique and important part of our provincial landscape and it is important that we balance the ecological and development interests in the region, " Environment Minister David Forbes said. "The committee will work with officials from my department in consultation with the people of the area and other stakeholders, to ensure that all concerns in the area are considered."

Public consultations will take place over the course of the two-year study. Fieldwork connected to the study is set to begin this spring and to be complete in the fall of next year.

"I am looking forward to working with the other members of the scientific team and officials of Saskatchewan Environment in examining this very important ecological area," Noss said. "Our goal is to examine the social, economic and ecological issues facing the Great Sand Hills and using that information will work together to assemble an ecosystem-based, integrated, sustainable development plan for the area."

The Great Sand Hills area is made up of 750 square miles of prairie, which includes active and inactive sand dunes. Last June the government accepted all the recommendations of an advisory committee set up to study the future of the area, including the establishment of a environmental study.

Information on the Great Sand Hills regional environmental study can be found at www.se.gov.sk.ca under the ecosystem management tab.

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For More Information, Contact:

Randy Seguin Environment Regina Phone: (306)787-1023 Cell: (306)537-3450