Policy & Legislation

Influencing government policies and legislation is one method that CPAWS SAB uses to achieve conservation gains on the ground. The following are some of the areas in which we are currently working for the implementation of environmentally responsible policies to help conserve southern Alberta wilderness and ecosystems.

Current issues

Modernizing Forestry Practices along Alberta’s Southern Eastern Slopes

The area which lies along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Southern Alberta is home to diverse land-uses including commercial forestry, cattle ranching, recreation and oil and gas. Numerous people visit Alberta’s Southern Eastern Slopes for the opportunity to experience the diverse natural landscapes, and to participate in a variety of recreational activities. The Southern Eastern Slopes are also of great ecological importance; this area contains the headwaters for the Bow and Oldman River Watersheds providing water to citizens in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Also, there is a rich habitat for diverse species including grizzly bears and cutthroat trout. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s Southern Alberta Chapter (CPAWS SAB) is conducting a project that is focusing on ways current forestry policies and practices in Alberta’s Southern Eastern Slopes can be improved.

The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP)

The South Saskatchewan Region (SSR), located in southern Alberta, is incredibly diverse. Its landscapes include grassland, parkland, foothills, and Rocky Mountains. The economy of the SSR is also diverse and the region's major economic activities are agriculture, energy production, forestry, and tourism and recreation. The SSR is also the most populated region in Alberta, containing 45 per cent of Alberta's population and our largest city, Calgary. The region also includes seven First Nations communities, whose reserves were established through the 1877 treaty process known as Treaty 7.

Alberta’s Land-Use Framework (LUF)

Alberta’s Land-use Framework (LUF) and it’s supporting legislation, the Alberta Land and Stewardship Act (ALSA) is a new approach for managing private and public lands in Alberta to achieve long-term economic, environmental and social outcomes. LUF sets out guiding principles and identifies key strategies which will guide future land-use management in Alberta.