WE WON!!!
In October, conservation groups became aware of a potential travesty about to happen in the Alberta grasslands. Existing laws grant the provincial government the right to sell public land without any public consultation, and there were plans for a huge potato farm in a sensitive area with limited water availability. See my previous post.
Once the word got out, environmental groups, opposition politicians and ranchers united to express their disgust at the whole concept.
Earlier this week, Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight confirmed that the bid has been withdrawn. It seems the company concerned has dropped their bid for the land, but were unavailable for comment to either the government or the media.
Sixty five square kilometres of natural grassland have temporarily been saved for the burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, Sprague’s pipit and other wildlife.
Well done, people!
This is awesome news! I love hearing about habitat being saved!
I’m glad your activism stopped the project in that case. In the U.S., doing something like that with federal land would require some form of environmental review and public comment, but states and local governments have more flexibility to push stuff like that through without public involvement.