Using the sustainable land management practices from the federal community pasture system as models, this project will focus on increasing awareness, and adoption, of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs). This will be accomplished through communication, extension, and technical assistance aimed at federal pasture managers, ranchers, landowners, farmers, and others living in rural areas in the Prairie Ecozone to support species at risk habitat conservation. This initiative will also increase rural landowners' awareness and understanding of species at risk recovery strategies, issues, and BMPs via workshops.

Technical contact is Bill Houston.

The Piping Plover is an endangered shorebird with less than 6,000 adults left in the world. It faces numerous challenges to its survival including habitat loss/alteration, predation and human disturbance. This project will enhance Piping Plover nesting and brood rearing habitat in select PFRA Community Pastures used by this species. The project will also build and enhance regional/local landowner awareness of species at risk and land use conflicts with Piping Plover recovery. Furthermore, PFRA will cooperate with Environment Canada to assist in data collection on a five-year productivity study of Piping Plovers on the Northern Great Plains and, specifically, at Excel-Key West pasture.

Technical contact is Bill Bristol.

The estimated Sage Grouse population in prairie Canada declined 80% between 1987 and 1997, but rebounded slightly in 1998 and 1999. This species occurs in only two Canadian provinces, namely Alberta and Saskatchewan. There are 19 known active leks (breeding grounds), 11 of which are located in Saskatchewan, and 8 in Alberta. Loss of native grass-sagebrush habitat has reduced the range and population density of Sage Grouse and the species is currently listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The number of active leks in Saskatchewan has decreased from about 40 in the 1960s to the present 11. Livestock grazing remains the most common use of rangelands utilized by Sage Grouse. This project may help determine if livestock grazing on federal lands (PFRA pastures) in southwest Saskatchewan is positively or negatively impacting Sage Grouse and Sage Grouse habitat. The information will be used to determine potential grazing management practices that will benefit this endangered species.

Technical contacts are Bill Bristol and Ted Weins.