Proponents of a system that rewards farmers for the ecological goods and services they provide hope to generate momentum from a recent Regina meeting.
Farmers, scientists and academics attending the symposium organized by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation heard about projects underway on the Prairies and how they might work elsewhere.
The concept rewards landowners for storing carbon, preserving wildlife and maintaining habitat, which in turn benefit society at large.
Paul James, formerly with the Saskatchewan environment ministry and now an environmental consultant, said those who attended the symposium must build support within their organizations and involve government in the process.
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He said they need a political champion and “ideally, it would be the minister of agriculture.”
James said such a program would need to be adaptive, verifiable, monitored, supported by the proper data and able to quantify benefits such as carbon storage.
The payment schedule would optimize the goods and services and recognize shortcomings.
“We need a mechanism to agree on price,” added Peter Joyce, a senior policy analyst with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration.
He said farmers should think of themselves as environmental solution providers and should be recognized for that in a simple and straightforward way.
However, Joyce also said there is a gap in the discussion because consumers have been underrepresented. Somehow, they must be included.
He pointed to a 2007 national survey that found half of Canadians believe farmers and ranchers take appropriate action to minimize the effects of their operations on the environment.
“Does this mean half don’t?” he said.
Panel moderator Dennis Sherratt, a climate change researcher at the University of Regina’s Canadian Plains Research Centre, agreed that involving the public is key.
“The public is going to have to come to understand what EG & S is, why it’s important to them and why it’s important to do something now.”
He urged conference participants to “create the parade.”
Bob Bailey of Delta Waterfowl said farmers must change their mindset from looking at environmental issues as a liability to “the idea that, for example, having endangered species is a bonus. There’s a tremendous amount of goodwill that can be achieved.”
Sherratt agreed, saying native grass stores carbon for thousands of years.
“That’s pretty good return for your money.”
