Addressing the critically low sage-grouse population
September 29, 2022
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Alberta Wilderness Association has written to federal Minister Steven Guilbeault, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and to provincial Minister Whitney Issik, to express our concerns on the critically low population of Greater sage-grouse in Canada and requesting more extensive protections for this species at risk.
Read a PDF version of AWA’s letter to Minister Guilbeault here, and to Minister Issik here.
September 26, 2022
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
By Email: Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca
RE: Greater sage-grouse population decline
Dear Minister Guilbeault,
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is writing to request further habitat protection measures to save Canada’s endangered greater sage-grouse. The federal Emergency Protection Order (EPO) introduced in 2013 slowed their decline yet has proven insufficient to recover sage-grouse populations. Nationally, only an estimated 250 individuals remain, and Alberta counted just 22 males on leks in 2022. The population and range declined by 90% in the past decades, and have shown little to no signs of recovery.
Sage-grouse are an iconic prairie bird, best known for their elaborate mating displays. Importantly, sage-grouse are considered an indicator species for the sagebrush ecosystem, an ecosystem that supports over 350 species throughout the North American Great Plains. These landscapes, a part of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s southern grasslands, are listed by ECCC as Priority Places for Species at Risk. The critically low sage-grouse populations, despite translocation efforts and captive breeding programs, indicates worsening conditions, and more must be done to address the health of the ecosystem.
The destruction of essential sage-grouse habitat persists outside the area of the EPO. Human development, including agriculture, oil and gas and infrastructure expansion, as well as rising interest in helium exploration and renewable energy, encroaches on the surviving sagebrush landscape. Protection of this habitat is vital to conserving sage-grouse populations and many other species at risk.
We ask your Ministry to extend the area covered under the EPO, to support a sustainable sage-grouse population. We also request ECCC strengthens support for policies and incentives to cease the loss of native prairie and valuable habitat, and to accelerate reclamation and habitat improvement.
A primer on events leading to the EPO, subsequent progress and ongoing threats to greater sage-grouse in Canada is in AWA’s attached August 2022 article, “Greater Sage-grouse: A Symbol of the Prairies”.
We look forward to your response to this urgent request at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
Ruiping Luo
Conservation Specialist
Cc: Michael Brewster, Director of Policy, Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister’s office
Sept 29, 2022
The Honourable Whitney Issik
Minister of Environment and Parks Alberta
323 Legislature Building 10800 – 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
By Email: aep.minister@gov.ab.ca
RE: Greater sage-grouse population decline
Dear Minister Issik,
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is writing to request further habitat protection measures to save Alberta’s endangered greater sage-grouse. Recent conservation and reclamation efforts have slowed their decline yet have proven insufficient to recover sage-grouse populations. Nationally, only an estimated 250 individuals remain, and Alberta counted just 22 males on leks in 2022. The population and range declined by 90% in the past decades and have shown little to no signs of recovery.
Sage-grouse are an iconic prairie bird, best known for their elaborate mating displays. Importantly, sage-grouse are considered an indicator species for the sagebrush ecosystem, an ecosystem that supports over 350 species throughout the North American Great Plains. Sage-grouse are a priority At Risk species that Alberta has committed to restoring through the provincial recovery program for species at risk. The critically low sage-grouse populations, despite translocation efforts and captive breeding programs, indicates worsening conditions, and more must be done to address the health of the ecosystem.
The destruction of essential sage-grouse habitat persists. While conversion to cropland has slowed, overgrazing and water management, both related to agriculture, are still threats. Other development, including oil and gas and infrastructure expansion, as well as rising interest in helium exploration and renewable energy, also encroaches on the surviving sagebrush landscape. Protection of this habitat is vital to conserving sage-grouse populations and many other species at risk.
We ask your Ministry to extend the current protective notations covering 42 townships to the range necessary for a sustainable sage-grouse population, and enhance protections around important sagebrush habitat to prohibit new surface disturbances. We also request AEP strengthens support for policies and incentives to cease the loss of native prairie and valuable habitat, and to accelerate reclamation and habitat improvement.
A primer on the history, conservation and ongoing threats to greater sage-grouse is in AWA’s attached August 2022 article, “Greater Sage-grouse: A Symbol of the Prairies”.
We look forward to your response to this urgent request at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
Ruiping Luo
Conservation Specialist
