MOOSE JAW — The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) marked a national first this week with the formal signing of Canada’s first-ever term conservation easement, protecting 640 acres of native grassland south of Fir Mountain, Sask., for the next 25 years.
Announced at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s (SSGA) 112th AGM and convention in Moose Jaw, the easement agreement represents a significant shift in Prairie conservation—blending long-term habitat protection with rancher flexibility.
“This is an exciting first step for the (SSGF) that’s been five years in the works since the inception of the foundation nearly 10 years before that …,” said SSGA president Jeff Yorga. “Term conservation easements give producers long-term flexibility, but they also provide … management and conservation tools for producers as well.”
The newly protected landscape includes critical habitat for species at risk such as the Greater Sage-Grouse, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Swift Fox, and Sprague’s Pipit. The signing ranchers, Lloyd and Nyla Anderson, are generational producers who partnered with the SSGF to help ensure the long-term viability of their land and lifestyle.
“Our grasslands and pastures are what looks after our cattle and family, and this easement guarantees that this pasture will be preserved for the next generation to carry on our way of life,” the couple shared in a statement.
Unlike permanent easements, term agreements are legally binding for a set duration — typically between 25 and 45 years — before expiring or being renegotiated. Normal grazing and livestock management practices remain permitted under the agreement, and landowners retain full control and responsibility.
Biggest year to date
This past year was the SSGF’s most active yet — both financially and operationally. Twenty-one Habitat Management Agreements were signed, covering more than 300,000 acres. Four Grass Bank partnerships were established on 155,000 acres, and 413 individual range health assessments were completed across 72,000 acres during the 2024 field season.
The Foundation also continued its Multi-Taxa monitoring project, now active at six ranches, to study the impacts of grazing strategies on birds, insects, and vegetation. Soil sampling has been added to the program through a partnership with the University of Alberta and the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
For Yorga, the conservation milestone is as much about stewardship as it is about sustainability.
“Prairie grasslands are an endangered ecosystem, and it’s important for us to preserve that grassland,” he said. “It’s important for us to give producers the tools to allow them to preserve that grassland while maintaining business continuity.”
Prairie grassland conservation matters because these native ecosystems provide vital services — from filtering water and storing carbon to stabilizing soils and offering essential habitat for wildlife. Beyond environmental benefits, healthy grasslands support the province’s agricultural foundation, sustain forage for livestock, and ensure the long-term productivity and economic resilience of rural communities.
SSGF is the first organization in Canada to offer term conservation easements. The Foundation, established in 2019 as a federally registered non-profit charity, is focused on protecting Saskatchewan’s rapidly declining native grasslands while maintaining economic viability for producers.
To date, the Foundation has signed one term easement covering 640 acres, agreed to two additional term agreements covering 4,706 acres, and two perpetual easements covering 1,429 acres, .
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