The Alberta government has recently eliminated habitat protections for the greater sage grouse, one of Canada’s most endangered species. The changes, made through amendments to the Public Lands Act in July, removed safeguards for the bird in designated protection and recovery zones. This decision coincided with the approval granted to helium extraction company Thor Resources within the specified greater sage grouse 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 birds estimated to remain in Alberta. The population decline of the greater sage grouse in Alberta has been drastic, experiencing a 98 percent reduction from 1968 to 2012 due to habitat loss and industrial development, leading to the species now occupying only about seven percent of its historical range.
Professor Mark Boyce, an ecology expert at the University of Alberta, who has been involved in greater sage grouse conservation efforts since 1977, expressed concerns that the removal of provincial protections directly threatens the survival of the remaining Alberta sage grouse population, risking their extinction. Boyce criticized the provincial government’s decision, stating that prioritizing industrial development over conservation efforts jeopardizes the existence of the endangered species.
In response to criticisms, Andrew Livingstone, the communications director for Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, defended the changes, emphasizing that the amendments aim to simplify regulatory requirements and provide flexibility for proponents operating in southeastern Alberta. He highlighted the province’s commitment to a sage grouse recovery program focused on achieving a balance between conservation goals and the province’s economic needs.
Joshua Killeen, the conservation science and program manager with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s southern Alberta chapter, raised concerns that lifting the provincial habitat protections undermines decades of conservation work aimed at aiding the species’ recovery. He warned that without habitat protection, the survival prospects of the greater sage grouse are significantly diminished, putting them at risk of disappearing not only from Alberta but possibly from Canada.
Although federal protections for a portion of Alberta’s greater sage grouse habitat remain in place, the removal of provincial regulations covering a broader area of the habitat poses a significant setback for the species. Thor Resources, the helium extraction company granted approval in the sage grouse habitat, did not include the greater sage grouse in its sensitive wildlife surveys, raising further conservation concerns.
Richard Dunn, the executive director of the Helium Developers Association of Canada, supported the removal of habitat protections, citing the necessity to balance environmental, economic, and social considerations. He argued that the previous habitat restrictions were overly stringent, hindering economic development in the region. The changes have sparked debates between conservationists advocating for species protection and industry representatives pushing for resource development opportunities.