| Land
Designation
Protected Private Lands
Land
Description
The
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) owns over
4,000 hectares of land within the endangered tall
grass prairie of south eastern Manitoba and its associated ecosystems. Through a
Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of
Manitoba and the NCC, 4,118 hectares of these lands in the Rural Municipality
of Stuartburn now contribute to Manitoba’s network of protected areas. This
agreement provides a legal mechanism to ensure
that NCC lands meet the provincial government’s
definition of a protected area in which logging,
mining, hydroelectric, oil and gas development, as
well as other activities that could significantly
and adversely affect natural habitat, are
prohibited.
Outstanding
Features
Prior to European settlement, the tall grass
prairie ecosystem covered much of the Red River Valley in south-central Manitoba.
Since then, most of this land has been largely
transformed for agricultural purposes. The
tall grass prairie is now considered to be one of
the rarest and most endangered ecosystems in North America. The
remaining tracts of this ecosystem are found in
and around the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn in
southeastern
Manitoba. The
tall grass prairie and its associated ecosystems
are home to numerous plant species, from flowers
and grasses to shrubs and trees, and a variety of
animals including birds, butterflies and frogs.
In addition to preserving portions of the tall
grass prairie ecosystem, establishment of a
protected area within this region has also
increased protection for several endangered and
threatened species. The Western Prairie Fringed
Orchid and Small White Lady’s Slipper are two
plant species that have been listed provincially
and federally as endangered species. Both of these
orchids require the presence of a companion fungus
to survive; a fungus that can easily be destroyed
when the plant is dug up. Other plants such as
Great Plains Ladies’-tresses, Culver’s Root
and Riddell’s Goldenrod are additional tall
grass prairie species that have been listed under
Manitoba’s Endangered Species Act. This area also
provides habitat for the Powesheik Skipperling, a
threatened butterfly whose very limited range
includes this region of southeastern
Manitoba.
The joining of NCC owned lands to
Manitoba’s network of protected areas marks the first
time privately owned land has been included in the
network. It
has also provided the chance to establish
protected areas within southern
Manitoba where opportunities to do so are often limited due
to the high proportion of developed land within
this region.
Back to Network of Protected
Areas Page |
