The Alberta government has removed habitat protections for the endangered greater sage grouse as part of amendments to the Public Lands Act in July. This decision has led to the elimination of safeguards for the bird in designated protection and recovery zones, allowing for industrial activities within their habitat.
The greater sage grouse, classified as an endangered species by both the Alberta and federal governments, faces a critical situation with less than 100 individuals remaining in Alberta. The population decline of the species in the province has been drastic, with a 98 percent decrease from 1968 to 2012 primarily due to habitat loss and industrial development, leaving them occupying only about seven percent of their historical range.
Ecology professor Mark Boyce from the University of Alberta, who has been involved in greater sage grouse conservation efforts for decades, expressed concerns over the removal of provincial protections. He warned that this action directly endangers the remaining sage grouse population in Alberta, potentially leading to their extinction.
The decision to lift habitat protections has raised alarm among conservationists and environmental groups. Joshua Killeen, the conservation science and program manager at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s southern Alberta chapter, highlighted the detrimental impact of these changes on the species’ recovery efforts. Without adequate habitat protection, the survival chances of the greater sage grouse are significantly diminished, putting them at risk of disappearing from Alberta and possibly from Canada.
The provincial government justified its actions by stating that the changes aim to simplify regulatory requirements and provide flexibility for proponents operating in southeastern Alberta. Alberta reiterated its commitment to a sage grouse recovery program focused on balancing conservation efforts with economic needs, emphasizing initiatives such as habitat restoration, predator management, and enhanced monitoring to support the species’ recovery.
The removal of habitat protections was reportedly influenced by the helium industry, particularly Thor Resources, a helium extraction company that received approval within designated greater sage grouse habitat concurrently with the regulatory changes. The company’s CEO, Brent Jonah, mentioned that while they would adhere to certain environmental measures, they are no longer bound by specific protections for the sage grouse in the area.
Richard Dunn, executive director of the Helium Developers Association of Canada, supported the decision to remove habitat protections, citing the necessity to balance environmental concerns with economic development. He argued that the previous restrictions were overly prohibitive and hindered economic activities in the region.
Despite federal protections still covering a portion of the greater sage grouse habitat in Alberta, the removal of provincial safeguards has raised significant concerns about the future of the species. Conservationists and experts fear that without adequate protections, the already dwindling population of the greater sage grouse faces an even greater risk of extinction.
