The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan has been released with promises to protect Alberta watersheds and create more conservation areas while still allowing growth in the region for the next 50 years.
The plan was created under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act and was five years in the making. It goes into effect Sept. 1 and may be reviewed every five years.
The 200 page document covers strategies for responsible energy development, sustainable farming and ranching as well as forest management and tourism.
The plan hopes to prevent further fragmentation of farmland and is offering conservation easements and other means for private landowners who want to protect biodiversity.
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Protection of native grasslands on private and public land is another priority, said environment minister Robin Cook at the launch of the plan in Calgary July 23.
Grazing leases will be extended from 10 to 20 years and in some cases tenure on heritage rangelands in the Pekisko region in the southwest could go to 30 years, said Scott Milligan of Alberta Environment.
Individual grazing lease management plans will be worked out between government staff and ranchers. He expects no changes in the way leaseholders are expected to manage the grass, water or number of animals allowed on a tract of land.
The province plans to create Twin River and Onefour Heritage Rangeland Natural Areas in the southeast.
That includes plans to take over the Agriculture Canada research substation at Onefour, where the native grasslands could be opened to further grazing. Provincial grazing research would be implemented as well.
More than 7,500 people provided feedback on the plan that covers an 83,764 sq. kilometre area that stretches from the Canada-United States border to north of Calgary. It is home to nearly two million people.
Further protection of watersheds and critical habitats is offered with new conservation areas and provincial parks. The plan creates:
•Eight new or expanded conservation areas, including a new 135,000 acre Castle Wildland Provincial Park and the 85,000 acre Pekisko Heritage Rangeland.
•Two new and six expanded provincial parks and recreation areas.
•Twelve new primitive recreation areas for camping and trail access.
