Think of Saskatchewan and the word prairie automatically comes to mind.
But chances are the flat grasslands people picture were planted by someone. Only about 20 percent of true native prairie remains.
Native prairie is grassland that has never been cultivated, but often has been hayed or grazed, said Lesley Hall of Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation.
She co-ordinates the corporation’s Native Prairie Stewardship Program.
A recent survey of 13.5 million acres in heavily cultivated areas found just one percent is native prairie, and much of it is in poor to fair condition. In the Regina heavy clay soil zone, which includes 1.3 million acres, there are only 16 native sites totaling 500 acres.
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The survey did not include the southwest, where most of the remaining native grass is found. Instead, it focused on areas where surveyors expected there would be fewer and smaller parcels.
“Those are probably our most threatened pieces,” said Hall. “They’re butting up against good cultivated soil.”
Since the native lands were identified, Hall and others have been asking landowners to participate in a voluntary stewardship agreement.
“It’s a verbal statement of intent and commitment to keeping the prairie they own as prairie,” Hall said.
About half of those contacted have agreed, and 137 agreements representing 28,000 acres have been made so far.
The landowners agree to maintain and protect the native prairie to the best of their ability, and notify the program of any planned land use change or intention to sell. In return, they receive a sign and a certificate of appreciation.
The stewardship program recently published a handbook outlining management practices for native remnant prairie. While cultivation is the most obvious threat, Hall said, there are others like consistent over-grazing and the invasion of exotic species such as brome grass.
Hall said people need to be aware that native prairie is worth keeping.
“Even if (the areas are) small, they’re holding the last remaining history of this place,” she said. “I think that it’s important as natural heritage.”
Hall plans to continue surveying in areas near Estevan and Melville this summer.
