Ranchers and landowners in southeastern Alberta are scrutinizing a federal proposal that promises to protect landowners as well as endangered plants and animals.
The framework for a new species at risk act was unveiled at the Calgary Zoo Dec. 17 by federal environment minister David Anderson. The minister wants to table the legislation in late February or March.
The proposed act promises cooperation, consultation and compensation for those affected by the act, but until that happens, land-use groups are cautiously optimistic.
“We think the minister is going a long way toward actually protecting species,” said Stan Klassen, who chairs the Land Resource Partnership, an umbrella group of Alberta agricultural and resource organizations.
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Details are vague over how the government plans to work through contentious subjects like payments for landowners and actual recovery of any endangered species.
“Compensation has been one of the key flags of the land resource partnership,” said Klassen.
To protect Canada’s 340 species at risk, the act proposes a teamwork approach involving the provinces and territories.
Together they would legally designate wildlife at risk, protect species and their habitats, offer education programs and help set up recovery plans to rebuild a viable population.
“Partnerships are essential because there is no one level of government that can protect species all by itself,” said Anderson.
The new act would also offer incentive programs involving payments, possible tax breaks or conservation easements to protect natural habitats.
“One message that has come through loud and clear is that we cannot address the issue of protecting species at risk without addressing the issue of critical habitat for those species,” said Anderson.
The minister assured stakeholders that Ottawa did not want to create an economic hardship for someone if the productive value of land was affected by a conservation program.
Listing species at risk will be done by the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada, a scientific body responsible for assessing species at risk.
Cabinet will ultimately approve the list. Anderson would not say how much money will be set aside for preservation or compensation but he expects all levels of government to assist.
