The iconic Greater Sage Grouse is listed as Endangered under the Species-at-Risk Act (SARA) and under the Alberta Wildlife Act. A federal Emergency Protection Order was issued in 2014 to address the threat to extinction of this species in Canada

Populations of the Greater Sage Grouse are in serious decline, as their habitat in the silver sagebrush grassland in southeastern Alberta continues to be disrupted by industrial activity and fragmentation. The most recent study conducted by the Government of Alberta suggests as few as 54 individuals surviving in their natural habitat – a 98% decline since 1968.

Albertans have invested considerable resources, both time and money, to improve habitat so as to increase the likelihood of Sage Grouse survival in the region. Conservation interventions have included breeding and release programs, predator control, conservation easements, and wellsite reclamation. The recent decision to remove habitat protection for approximately 2800 square kilometres of land diminishes the already-inadequate protected area by 74%. This area represents core zones for Sage Grouse recovery as designated by the Emergency Protection Order. Years of effort will be undone by this ill-considered decision.

Because of this decision, the risk of extinction of the Greater Sage Grouse in Canada is almost certain.

Why would the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas (without public consultation or official announcement, and against a federal order) remove protection of this important habitat and further diminish biodiversity and environmental integrity in the province?

Is it because of the construction of a helium extraction company (Thor Resources), recently approved by the Alberta Energy Regulator? This project would require access roads, the drilling of wells, and the construction of processing facilities – all of which disrupt the reproductive success of Greater Sage Grouse.

The decision to remove protection of a majority of Sage Grouse habitat, which will likely lead to the extinction of this species in Canada, represents a failure of the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, and the Government of Alberta, to preserve species-at-risk and biodiversity in Alberta.

Unfortunately, this appears to be a pattern for the Government of Alberta when one considers the failure to protect our ephemeral wetlands; to protect our rivers and streams from industrial contamination by coal mining on the eastern slopes; by supporting the proposals for more on-stream dams and subsequent loss of riparian habitat; by allowing inter-basin transfers of water, putting rivers at greater risk of invasive species and contamination; by removing protections of threatened wildlife by effacing hunting regulations; by expanding quotas for the clear-cutting of timber in the eastern slopes of the Rockies; and, by developing parklands for all-season resorts. In short, any species of animal larger than a gopher is at risk of losing their habitat to industrial plunder – and even the gophers are facing the Government of Alberta’s reintroduction of strychnine into the ecosystem as a method of control.

SAGE encourages the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas to consider the environment and protected areas in their decision-making processes. This would prioritize the conservation of essential habitat over industrial activity. And it would require the simple understanding that our prosperity is dependent on environmental integrity, which includes the Greater Sage Grouse.