The Alberta government has recently eliminated habitat protections for the greater sage grouse, an endangered species in Canada. These protections were removed through changes to the Public Lands Act, which resulted in the elimination of safeguards for the bird in designated protection and recovery zones. Concurrently, Thor Resources, a helium extraction company, received new approval for operations within the designated greater sage grouse habitat.
The greater sage grouse is classified as an endangered species by both the Alberta and federal governments, with estimates suggesting that the remaining population in Alberta is less than 100 birds, confined to the southeastern part of the province. Between 1968 and 2012, there was a significant 98% decline in the greater sage grouse population in Alberta, primarily due to habitat loss and industrial activities, resulting in the species now occupying only about seven percent of its historical range.
Mark Boyce, an ecology professor at the University of Alberta with extensive experience in greater sage grouse conservation, expressed concerns about the removal of provincial protections, emphasizing the direct threat it poses to the survival of the remaining sage grouse population in Alberta. Boyce criticized the government’s decision, stating that it neglects the conservation of this critically endangered species, which could lead to its extinction in Canada.
In response 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 more flexibility for proponents operating in southeastern Alberta. He highlighted the province’s commitment to a sage grouse recovery program that seeks to strike a balance between conservation efforts and the economic needs of the region. Alberta plans to invest in various recovery initiatives, such as habitat restoration, predator management, and enhanced monitoring, to support the recovery of the endangered species.
Joshua Killeen, the conservation science and program manager at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s southern Alberta chapter, expressed concerns over the lifting of provincial habitat protections, emphasizing that it undermines decades of conservation efforts aimed at helping the sage grouse population recover. Killeen warned that without adequate habitat protection, the survival prospects of the species are significantly diminished, making them vulnerable to local extinction in Alberta and potentially across 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 habitat area is seen as a major setback for the species. The decision to remove habitat protections was influenced by the helium industry, which advocated for these changes to balance environmental considerations with economic development interests.
Thor Resources, the helium extraction company operating in the greater sage grouse habitat, indicated that they would continue implementing certain measures to mitigate environmental impacts, but the removal of specific protections for the sage grouse has relieved them of following stringent guidelines previously in place. This move has sparked concerns among conservationists and wildlife advocates, who fear that the species may face further endangerment without adequate habitat protection measures in place.