Nature Conservancy Canada adds another parcel to Waterton Park Front

[urban rednek]

More land protected from future commercial development.
Anybody familiar with their MO care to comment Pros vs. Cons?

Nature Conservancy of Canada purchases land for protection in southern Alberta

The Canadian Press
Published Jan 31, 2023

TWIN BUTTE, Alta. — A property that includes fescue grasslands, forests and wetlands near Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta has been purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
The organization said Tuesday that the 2.5-square-kilometre property between the national park and Twin Butte, Alta., is its newest conservation site.
“Waterton Lakes National Park is renowned for its incredible wildlife, but these species rely on an area much larger than the park itself throughout the year,” Tom Lynch-Staunton, regional vice-president for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said in a statement.

“By conserving this property, we are ensuring it will continue to offer habitat and safe movement routes for these incredible animals.”

The Nature Conservancy of Canada said the property will become part of the 130-square kilometres of private conservation lands known as the Waterton Park Front, which is now about 75 per cent conserved.

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“This property is just another piece of that larger puzzle,” said Sean Feagan, an Alberta spokesman for Nature Conservancy of Canada.

“It’s a victory for nature.”

Land conservation in the area, he said, is important because it features a unique and relatively intact ecosystem that provides a corridor for wildlife such as grizzly bears and elk.

“It’s where the grasslands butt up right against the mountains,” said Feagan. “There’s not a ton of foothills, so it’s a unique part of the province geographically and geologically.

“So, you get a mixture of grasslands species and montane species living together.”

He said mammals such as elk, deer and moose congregate in the areas outside of the national park in the winter to forage grasses such as fescue, which has high nutritional value.

“It’s a really important winter foodstuff for these animals,” he said.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada said the protected area will continue to be used for cattle grazing while being managed in a way that allows nature to thrive.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2023.

— By Colette Derworiz in Calgary.

[3blade]

Look up what happened to the Waldron.

It’s no secret these guys are working with Y2Y to eliminate all non-treaty hunting. Alberta is their focus because the canmore ecoterrorists (aka KVT and his BHA cult disciples) give them a launch point

NCC M.O. - At first hunting is acceptable, then there’s access restrictions “to protect sensitive whatever”, then game restrictions, then time of year restrictions, then they lock the gates and stop answering the phone or emails.

[goldscud]

The flip side of your concern is that it is private land and you are never allowed to go there anyway.
Furthermore it could be subdivided into a bunch of mini-mansions with all kinds of habitat perturbations that are not in the best interests of wildlife.

NCC would like to maintain large pieces of habitat with minimal disturbance. Doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Lots of hunting on NCC lands, just have to book a time

[3blade]

Originally Posted by goldscud

The flip side of your concern is that it is private land and you are never allowed to go there anyway.
Furthermore it could be subdivided into a bunch of mini-mansions with all kinds of habitat perturbations that are not in the best interests of wildlife.

NCC would like to maintain large pieces of habitat with minimal disturbance. Doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Lots of hunting on NCC lands, just have to book a time

Ok Kevin, go don’t kill another sheep

I’m fine with land owners controlling access to their own property.

I’m absolutely opposed to hunting being limited by race, by an NGO.

[Pathfinder76]

When did Waterton become too small?

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by goldscud

The flip side of your concern is that it is private land and you are never allowed to go there anyway.
Furthermore it could be subdivided into a bunch of mini-mansions with all kinds of habitat perturbations that are not in the best interests of wildlife.

NCC would like to maintain large pieces of habitat with minimal disturbance. Doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Lots of hunting on NCC lands, just have to book a time

Hunting NCC property has become almost impossible. But there is guiding happening on it if that is any consolation.

[landowner]

Sometimes the only choice is between an urban billionaire who doesn’t allow agriculture or wildlife hunting vs NCC. As flawed as NCC is, there are situations where they are the better choice.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by landowner

Sometimes the only choice is between an urban billionaire who doesn’t allow agriculture or wildlife hunting vs NCC. As flawed as NCC is, there are situations where they are the better choice.

Agreed, they do allow public use.

Grizz

[KBF]

.

[Albertadiver]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Look up what happened to the Waldron.

It’s no secret these guys are working with Y2Y to eliminate all non-treaty hunting. Alberta is their focus because the canmore ecoterrorists (aka KVT and his BHA cult disciples) give them a launch point

NCC M.O. - At first hunting is acceptable, then there’s access restrictions “to protect sensitive whatever”, then game restrictions, then time of year restrictions, then they lock the gates and stop answering the phone or emails.

This

[Geraldsh]

Bit of a mixed message there: saving the forage for wild ungulates but letting Cattle graze it off?

[KBF]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Bit of a mixed message there: saving the forage for wild ungulates but letting Cattle graze it off?

Grazing days and number of animals will be regulated. There’s a longer article on the NCC website

[landowner]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

Bit of a mixed message there: saving the forage for wild ungulates but letting Cattle graze it off?

As someone who lives in the “yarrow “ area , I know first hand that the ungulates come in large numbers to graze behind the cattle to get the sweet second growth . The land will have a sound grazing plan. Also cattle are needed in this area for fire suppression, Waterton left ungrazed land and we were felt the Kenow fire .

[Geraldsh]

Originally Posted by landowner

As someone who lives in the “yarrow “ area , I know first hand that the ungulates come in large numbers to graze behind the cattle to get the sweet second growth . The land will have a sound grazing plan. Also cattle are needed in this area for fire suppression, Waterton left ungrazed land and we were felt the Kenow fire .

We need a “thanks” button for posts that give us actual information that encourages us to research a bit more. Thank you.

[Pekan]

Originally Posted by landowner

As someone who lives in the “yarrow “ area , I know first hand that the ungulates come in large numbers to graze behind the cattle to get the sweet second growth . The land will have a sound grazing plan. Also cattle are needed in this area for fire suppression, Waterton left ungrazed land and we were felt the Kenow fire .

X2 on the thanks button.

I drive that area between CNP and Waterton, Cardston area and love it. I personally would hate to see the larger pieces of land chopped up into acreages.
The Nature Conservancy might appeal to some ranchers for similar reasons I would think.

It's a beautiful place but I wouldn't want to have to make a living on it.

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Look up what happened to the Waldron.

It’s no secret these guys are working with Y2Y to eliminate all non-treaty hunting. Alberta is their focus because the canmore ecoterrorists (aka KVT and his BHA cult disciples) give them a launch point

NCC M.O. - At first hunting is acceptable, then there’s access restrictions “to protect sensitive whatever”, then game restrictions, then time of year restrictions, then they lock the gates and stop answering the phone or emails.

Got no one to blame but the land owners for allowing this to happen. Sell to the highest bidder instead of to a neighbor for a bit less.

[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by ram crazy

Got no one to blame but the land owners for allowing this to happen. Sell to the highest bidder instead of to a neighbor for a bit less.

Why do the neighbors refuse to pay market value?

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Why do the neighbors refuse to pay market value?

Who's saying they won't, but when the nature conservancy comes and pays over market, greed is a wonderful thing!

[saskwhitey]

A lot of the puchases are easements, which your neighbors would never do. The way they get people to sell, is to buy the land, but nothing changes for 30 years. So in the landowner’s lifetime nothing changes and they get their money upfront and live out their lives in their own homes. It’s great for the landowner but screws their kids down the road, ask me how I know! This set up is how they have convinced so many to sell to them. Nobody else can buy land that way.

[tirebob]

Originally Posted by ram crazy

Who's saying they won't, but when the nature conservancy comes and pays over market, greed is a wonderful thing!

I dunno man... Nature Conservancy is trying to buy the land my mom's fellow owns and they straight won't pay even close to market value. In fact they want it as a virtual donation with the caveat that they can live in the house for free until he passes.

I think the idea they always pay over value is not accurate. Not saying it maybe never happens, but it isn't just the norm.