Manitoba’s main farm groups seem OK with the expansion of endangered species regulations, as long as farmers and ranchers are seen as part of the natural systems that support these species.
“So much of this land evolved under grazing,” said Melinda German, general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers.
“There usually is a good synergy between cattle and certain ecosystems.”
The Manitoba government has added four species to its “threatened” or “endangered” list, allowing more protection of the animals and their habitat, while downgrading one from endangered to threatened.
Read Also
Cargill’s Regina crush plant should help offset loss of China demand
Cargill’s new Regina crush facility is expected to help raise domestic demand for Canadian canola just as China, usually Prairie growers’ top export buyer, raises a new tariff wall.
As well, the government has become the first in Canada to designate ecosystems as protected, allowing some control of the activities within them.
The government is proposing a 7,000 acre Ecosystem Protection Zone in the Interlake to cover the sensitive alvar soils that lie atop limestone formations.
The government is also designating the remnants of the tall grass prairie.
Designating the protected zones adds controls to the habitat itself, regardless of the presence of animals or plants. The limits of the protected zone will be specifically listed.
The newly listed endangered species are all flying creatures, including the northern long-eared bat, the little brown bat, Gastony’s cliffbrake and the olive-sided flycatcher.
The Canada warbler has been relaxed to threatened from endangered.
Farmers have sometimes opposed new or restrictive endangered species laws because they can force farmland out of production. However, neither Manitoba Beef Producers nor Keystone Agricultural Producers attacked the idea of protecting bats, birds and ecosystems.
“We are in favour of protecting endangered species,” said KAP president Dan Mazier.
“It becomes complicated when it becomes part of a farmer’s land or operation. It shouldn’t cost the farmer anything to do the public good.”
German said species and ecosystem protection isn’t a threat to farmers if the rules and regulators understand how grass-based systems work.
“Producers who care for the land, beef producers, are good stewards,” said German.
“There are a lot of sensitive species, endangered plants and animals that actually thrive under pasture and grazing management.”
The new endangered habitats will be laid out on crown land, the government says.
ed.white@producer.com
