More than 70,000 acres of land have been set aside for protection in southwestern Alberta.
The Whaleback region in the Rocky Mountain natural area has been declared a special place, a provincial designation that protects natural areas within the six regions of the province.
Considered an important wildlife habitat and unique landscape, the Whaleback is closed to future industrial development like logging and oil exploration.
BP Amoco Group relinquished its right to develop petroleum and natural gas and the land was turned over to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The energy company has spent about $5 million to purchase leases and for exploratory work.
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Limited recreational access is allowed and grazing rights will continue.
“If grazing were to cease, it would all grow up with trees and it wouldn’t be the same ecological area it is,” said Michael Lohner of Alberta Environment.
The Whaleback is considered a unique place because it combines native grassland, Douglas fir and limber pine. Some trees in the area are more than 500 years old.
Since 1995, the province has set aside 1.5 million acres for protection. The Whaleback brings the number of protected sites to 52.
In addition, the livestock industry is pushing the government to pass the Natural Heritage Act to protect certain grazing areas that fall within a Special Places nomination.
The bill, which amalgamates and updates three older pieces of legislation dealing with protected areas and parks, is expected to pass before the spring sitting ends May 20.
The province has about 600 protected areas and needed a modern structure to properly manage them.
The act includes the concept of a heritage rangeland designation specifically for the grassland regions.
Many of the original special areas nominations were rejected because ranchers feared they would lose access to grazing on these lands. This legislation could offer grazing tenures of up to 30 years.
Interest has been renewed in protection, providing this act recognizes the right to graze to maintain the ecosystem.
“Many of the crown leases that had a nomination have been waiting for this act to pass because the other designations would not include grazing,” said Gary Sargent of the Alberta Cattle Commission.
