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.
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.
CPAWS SAB is excited at the potential for the LUF and ALSA to address many of the pressing issues and cumulative effects arising from existing land and resource management practices. While we welcome change that will increase the sustainability of land-use practices, we do have some concerns about how the high level concepts contained in the LUF (e.g., cumulative effects management, environmental sustainability, etc.) will be applied on-the-ground to make a difference to our wilderness and ecosystem management.
We welcome the opportunity to work with the Government of Alberta and our many partners to ensure landscape land-use planning that reflects the full spectrum of economic, environmental and social values held by Albertans. Visit https://landuse.alberta.ca to learn more.
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.
The Alberta government's LUF identifies the South Saskatchewan Region (the southern third of Alberta), as a priority area requiring immediate action. The Land-use Secretariat (a branch of government created to guide the creation and implementation of all strategies contained in the LUF) will oversee the development of a regional plan for the South Saskatchewan Region, with input from all Government departments and an appointed Regional Advisory Council (RAC).
In the Spring of 2011, the RAC submitted its advice to Cabinet for the SSRP. This document is currently open for public consultation. The results of that consultation will be submitted to a planning team of government staff who will create a draft plan. The Government of Alberta has an online workbook to gather the public's input on the RAC advice.
CPAWS SAB is continually engaged in the consultation process and has produced the following tools and resources around regional planning in the SSR:
CPAWS SAB will be hosting a series of workshops throughout the South Saskatchewan Region to engage the public in the SSRP consultation process. Land-use planning for a region of this size is complex; this workshops will give people an opportunity to share ideas and discuss their future vision for this region.
All workshops will be held from 7-9pm; refreshments will be provided. Here are the details:
April 30 - Medicine Hat at the Nature Centre, Police Point Park
May 1 - Lethbridge at the Galt Museum Learning Studio. 502-1st street.
May 3 - Cowley Town Hall. 516 Railway Ave.
May 8 - Canmore Senior Centre . 600B- 9th street.
May 9 - Calgary. Alberta Wilderness Association Office. 455-12th St. NW
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