The Alberta government has recently lifted habitat protections for the endangered greater sage grouse, a move that has raised concerns among conservationists and experts. The changes made to the Public Lands Act in July removed safeguards for the bird in designated protection and recovery zones, allowing for increased industrial activities within their habitat. The greater sage grouse, classified as an endangered species by both the provincial and federal governments, faces a critical situation with an estimated population of fewer than 100 birds remaining in Alberta.
The population of greater sage grouse in Alberta has experienced a drastic 98% decline from 1968 to 2012 primarily due to habitat loss and industrial development, leading to them occupying only about seven percent of their historical range. Mark Boyce, an ecology professor at the University of Alberta who has been involved in sage grouse conservation efforts since 1977, expressed concerns that the removal of provincial protections puts the remaining population at a high risk of extinction.
Boyce criticized the government’s decision, emphasizing the potential loss of the most endangered vertebrate species in Canada due to the lack of conservation measures. He highlighted the sensitivity of sage grouse to development activities, noting that noise, traffic, and human structures can disrupt their habitats and make them vulnerable to predators.
Responding to criticisms, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas communications director Andrew Livingstone defended the changes, stating that they were aimed at simplifying regulatory requirements and providing flexibility for proponents operating in southeastern Alberta. Livingstone emphasized the province’s commitment to a sage grouse recovery program focusing on conservation while balancing the needs of a changing economy.
Despite federal protections remaining in place for a portion of Alberta’s sage grouse habitat, conservationists like Joshua Killeen from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s southern Alberta chapter expressed concerns over the potential impact of lifting provincial habitat protections. Killeen warned that without adequate habitat protection, the survival chances of the species are significantly reduced, putting them at risk of disappearing entirely from Alberta and potentially from Canada.
The helium extraction industry, which pushed for the removal of provincial protections, has been granted approvals to operate in designated sage grouse habitat. Industry representatives, including Thor Resources CEO Brent Jonah, have stated that they will adhere to certain mitigation measures but no longer have specific guidelines related to sage grouse conservation to follow.
Richard Dunn, executive director of the Helium Developers Association of Canada, supported the removal of habitat protections, citing the need to balance environmental concerns with economic development. Dunn argued that the previous restrictions were too stringent and hindered economic growth in the region.
The contentious decision to lift habitat protections for the greater sage grouse in Alberta has sparked debates between conservationists, industry stakeholders, and government officials. The fate of this endangered species hangs in the balance as conflicting interests seek to find a compromise between conservation efforts and economic development.