The Alberta government has recently eliminated habitat protections for the endangered greater sage grouse. This decision, made through amendments to the Public Lands Act in July, removed safeguards for these birds in specific protection and recovery zones. Concurrently, Thor Resources, a helium extraction company, obtained a new approval within the designated greater sage grouse habitat.
The greater sage grouse, considered an endangered species by both the provincial and federal governments, faces a critical situation in Alberta. With fewer than 100 birds remaining in the province, largely confined to the southeastern corner, the population has dwindled significantly. Between 1968 and 2012, Alberta witnessed a staggering 98% decline in greater sage grouse numbers due to habitat loss and industrial activities, leaving the species occupying only a fraction of its historical range.
Professor Mark Boyce from the University of Alberta, an expert in greater sage grouse conservation, expressed concerns over the removal of provincial protections. Boyce emphasized the dire risk of extirpation faced by the remaining Alberta sage grouse population due to this decision.
In response to criticisms, Andrew Livingstone, the communications director for Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, defended the changes, citing the aim to simplify regulatory requirements and provide flexibility for proponents in southeastern Alberta. Livingstone highlighted the province’s commitment to a sage grouse recovery program that aims to strike a balance between conservation efforts and economic needs.
Despite these assurances, conservationists like Joshua Killeen from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s southern Alberta chapter believe that lifting habitat protections undermines decades of conservation work. Killeen expressed concerns about the species’ survival without adequate habitat protection, warning of the potential loss of greater sage grouse from Alberta and possibly Canada.
While federal protections for a portion of Alberta’s greater sage grouse habitat remain intact, the removal of provincial safeguards has raised significant apprehension. The decision to lift habitat protections was pushed by the helium industry, with companies like Thor Resources emphasizing compliance with remaining regulations while acknowledging the shift in habitat protection status.
Richard Dunn, the executive director of the Helium Developers Association of Canada, supported the removal of habitat protections, citing the need to balance environmental concerns with economic development. Dunn highlighted the economic implications of stringent habitat protections and the importance of maintaining a balance between conservation and development efforts.