The Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) working group looking at the Bighorn Country proposal issued a list of concerns it says it has with the plan.
The Bighorn Country proposal is a provincial initiative that would create a number of new provincial parks along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, including the Ya Ha Tinda Provincial Park west of Sundre. It would also create new public land use zones (PLUZs).
The ABP represents more than 18,000 cattle producers in the province.
There are a number of ABP members who hold grazing leases in the Bighorn Country area, which stretches from Drayton Valley in the north to west of Sundre in the south.
The ABP working group was formed to review the proposal, identify concerns, and take part in consultations.
The group released a list of concerns, including the following:
• The Bighorn proposal is pre-empting the development of the final North Saskatchewan Regional Plan (NSRP). The NSRP is a multi-stakeholder process that should be considered especially in areas where the RAC did not have consensus.
• While grazing leases have relatively secure tenure, grazing permit holders are concerned about security of grazing permit tenure. These stakeholders need assurances that grazing permits will not be affected, and that they have long-term secure tenure.
• The proposal is unclear on whether a permit or leaseholder will continue to be able to renew or transfer permits or leases in the long term.
• There is a lack of detail on how the PLUZs will be managed, especially on government staff oversight, development of grazing management plans, and how conflicts between user groups will be mitigated. There are concerns with parks staff, instead of rangeland agrologists, interfering or placing unnecessary restrictions in the proper management of the PLUZs, grazing reserves, and grazing permits in the Bighorn Parks and PLUZs.
• Beef producers are concerned with the speed of implementation of the Bighorn proposal and perceived secrecy in the fall of 2018 on the government’s intentions with the Bighorn area. Transparency on the government’s intentions and plans for implementation would have helped maintain trust with stakeholders in the area.
• Grazing disposition holders need greater assurance, to build trust, and more details on how grazing will be affected and managed in Bighorn Country.
• Unclear whether the Pembina or Rocky Grazing reserves would still remain intact within the Bighorn, and how land management planning will continue with respect to specific reserves.
• Unclear how displaced recreational users will be managed in the PLUZ and other neighbouring lands. It will be important that the government continue to consult stakeholders who will be impacted in other adjacent public land areas and develop mitigation strategies to minimize conflict between leaseholders and recreational users.
• No new grazing permits allowed in the Wildland Provincial Park. As mentioned previously, grazing livestock can be used to improve the health of grasslands, reduce brush encroachment, and maintain a healthy and functioning ecosystem. Blanket restrictions should not be made without consideration of using livestock for rangeland improvements and rejuvenation.
• The Bighorn proposal doesn’t seem to allow for further expansion or creation of new grazing reserves within the area.
“Although ABP appreciates the government of Alberta’s commitment to honour all grazing leases, permits, and grazing reserves in the Bighorn, we have concerns and ideas for improvements to the plan,” the group said on the ABP website.
“There is uncertainty with respect to specific details about how the Public Land Use Zones will continue to be overseen and by whom, including the development or refinement of grazing management plans, collaboration opportunities with local grazers, and how conflict between users will be mitigated."
The working group has also come out with a number of recommendations regarding the Bighorn Country proposal, including that the government of Alberta “commit to long-term (20-year) secure tenure of leases, grazing permits, and grazing reserves within the Bighorn area. Long-term security ensures proper management for healthy ecosystem outcomes and conservation.”
The working group said it will be making an official submission letter to the province about the Bighorn Country proposal prior to the Feb. 15 deadline for consultations, ABP communications manager Katelyn Laverdure told the Gazette.
