Sage Grouse Protection Controversial

Sage Grouse Protection Controversial

Postby Oscar » Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:31 am

Sage Grouse Protection Controversial

[ http://pfrapastureposts.wordpress.com/ ]

19 Mar 2014

The Western Producer has interviewed ranchers about the federal Protection Order for the greater sage grouse. This article, Protection order sparks fear among ranchers, [ http://www.producer.com/2014/03/protect ... -ranchers/ ] shows some of the fears and misunderstanding out there.

[Rancher Hargrave] does not accept habitat loss as the primary reason the birds are disappearing. The greater threats to the birds are predators such as coyotes and hawks and diseases such as West Nile virus, she added.

Hargrave believes the federal government came under pressure and agreed to the emergency protection order when conservation groups, took the issue to court. A federal court judge ruled that government cannot ignore the critical habitat needs of species at risk.

Trevor Herriot addresses a few sides:
[ http://trevorherriot.blogspot.ca/2014/0 ... ments.html ]

So far, we have a commitment of millions of dollars to let the Calgary Zoo try captive breeding of the birds, and ranchers all over south-eastern Alberta and south-western Saskatchewan severely ticked off and feeling like the government and conservation groups never listen to them. [...]

To be clear, the conservation community was as surprised as the ranchers have been over the approach that Environment Canada has taken. And most people concerned about the species are wondering why the lion’s share of the money seems to be going to a zoo for captive breeding.

= = = = =

Sage Grouse Emergency Protection Order


From: Public Pastures - Public Interest [mailto:public4pastures@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 12:06 PM
To: P Pastures

On February 18, 2014 the Canadian government's Emergency Protection Order for the Greater Sage Grouse came into effect. There has been considerable reaction to the EPO and the way it was developed, with many recognizing the importance of protecting the Greater Sage Grouse, but concerns being raised about its impact on ranchers and the oil and gas industry. Further information is needed on the intended application of the EPO.

Historically the Sage Grouse range included sage brush grasslands in the drier regions of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, but today are only found in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan and southeast corner of Alberta along the United States border. It is an ‘endangered’ species under the Species at Risk Act. The species exists in some numbers in the U.S. but is in danger of becoming extinct in Canada / extirpated from Canada. Research indicates that oil, gas and other developments affect the Sage Grouse, but the dramatic drop in their numbers in recent years is not fully explained, with predators or viruses being cited by ranchers as other possible causes for the decline.

Not enough was being done to protect the Sage Grouse. So Ecojustice, on behalf of Alberta Wilderness Association, Wilderness Committee, Nature Saskatchewan and Grassland Naturalists, applied to the Federal Court for a court order to force the federal Minister of the Environment to issue recommendations for emergency protection of the Greater Sage Grouse. In December 2013, the federal government introduced emergency protections for the Sage Grouse.

Unfortunately, the federal government did not consult with affected ranchers in the Sage Grouse range or conservation groups for their input and approval before issuing the Emergency Order. This lack of communication and cooperation has resulted in misinformation, friction among groups and a backlash against protecting this critically endangered species.

****************

Some background and history follows.

See the article from Alberta Beef magazine attached to this email [ no digital version of Feb. 2014 available. Ed. ] and an article from Western Producer and Trevor's blog listed below.

Information about the Greater Sage Grouse
Nature Canada
Species Spotlight: Greater Sage Grouse
[ http://www.naturecanada.ca/endangered_k ... grouse.asp ]


Emergency Protection Order
Ecojustice, November 23, 2011
Petition to Peter Kent re: sage-grouse
[ https://www.ecojustice.ca/media-centre/ ... use-nov.11 ]


Environment Canada, Sept 17, 2013
“Canada’s Species at Risk Act: Taking Action for Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada”
[ http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En ... z7gOXRE%3D ]


Justice Laws Website, Nov 20, 2013 - Registration
Emergency Order for the Protection of the Greater Sage-Grouse
SOR/2013-202 SPECIES AT RISK ACT
[ http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regu ... age-1.html ]


Ecojustice, Dec 4, 2013
Saving the Sage Grouse
[ https://www.ecojustice.ca/media-centre/ ... nload/file ]


Ecojustice, Mar 3, 2014Sage Grouse II
[ https://www.ecojustice.ca/cases/sage-grouse-ii ]


Articles

CBC News, The Canadian Press, June 23, 2012
Sage grouse could soon be extinct in Canada
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/sage- ... -1.1273612 ]


CBC News, Sep 18, 2013
Endangered sage grouse to be protected by emergency order: Unprecedented move comes after environmental groups sue federal government
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/endan ... -1.1857898 ]


Global News, Dec 4, 2013
Feds work to save Sage Grouse in Saskatchewan. Alberta
[ http://globalnews.ca/news/1009052/sage- ... -released/ ]


CBC News, Dec 4, 2013
Greater sage grouse protection plan released: Emergency order won't be enough to save rare, iconic birds, environmental groups say
By Margo McDiarmid
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/greater ... -1.2450922 ]


CBC News, Canadian Press, Jan 03, 2014
Sage grouse protection order challenged by Alberta city, oil company: Order restricts oil production in areas near the sage grouse's habitat
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/s ... -1.2483759 ]


Calgary Zoo, Media Release, Jan 15, 2014
Saving the Prairie Drummer"
[ http://www.calgaryzoo.com/media-release ... ie-drummer ]
(Media release for a conference on a management plan for the Sage Grouse. One initiative is that Calgary Zoo will be implementing a captive breeding program.)


The Star, Canadian Press, Jan 16, 2014
Can Sage Grouse be saved from the brink of extinction?
[ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014 ... anada.html ]


Alberta Beef Magazine, Feb 2014, pages (?) and 12 to 14
Ranchers worry about Sage Grouse Emergency Protection Order
(scan of article attached) - (no digital version available. Ed.)


Western Producer, Mar 6, 2014, pages 34-35
Protection order sparks fear among ranchers
By Barbara Duckworth, Calgary Bureau
[ http://www.producer.com/2014/03/protect ... -ranchers/ ]


Trevor Herriot's Grass Notes, Mar 14, 2014
American Sage Grouse authority laments Canada's failure to protect the species
[ http://trevorherriot.blogspot.ca/2014/0 ... ments.html ]

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