ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PARTNERSHIPS: A SASKATCHEWAN PERSPECTIVE Manitoba Ecological Restoration Workshop Winnipeg, MB March 21, 2018 Renny W. Grilz, P. Ag. Resource Management Officer
Meewasin Crocus Prairie & Petturson s Ravine Meewasin Northeast Swale Yorath Island Saskatoon Natural Grasslands Cranberry Flats Conservation Area Beaver Creek Conservation Area Conserve Develop Educate
Prescribed Burning Awareness Conservation Grazing Ecological Monitoring Integrated Resource Management Invasive Species Management Site Maintenance Ecological Restoration
Prescribed Burning
Targeted Conservation Grazing Spatial and Temporal Patchiness
PCAP 2003-2008 Goals The 5 goals of the 2003-2008 plan were: Goal 1: Sustain a Healthy Native Prairie Grazing Resource Goal 2: Conserve the Remaining Native Prairie Goal 3: Maintain Native Prairie Biological Diversity Goal 4: Promote Complementary Sustainable Uses of Native Prairie Goal 5: Increase Awareness and Understanding of Native Prairie and its Values
PCAP Focus Area Objectives 2014-2018 Focus Area Native Prairie Education & Awareness Objectives Increase awareness of the importance of native prairie and species at risk, targeting students, industry and provincial and municipal policy makers. Responsible Land Use on Native Prairie Guide native prairie land users with balanced, evidence-based information about ecological footprints and best practices to sustain healthy native prairie and species at risk populations while mitigating human impact. Native Prairie Ecosystem Management Promote the importance of land management knowledge and adoption of practices that have a positive impact on biodiversity, species at risk and prairie ecosystem health.
Vision An expanded knowledge and appreciation of Saskatchewan's native plants. Mission To promote understanding and conservation of native plants and their ecosystems by facilitating communication, research, and education. The NPSS is a member-driven registered charity that believes in achieving goals through active, impartial dialogue with all stakeholders.
Promotion and Education Newsletter, Information Display, Event Sponsorship Market Development Liaising, Listing Service, Harvesting and Marketing Information and Distribution Information Development Seminars and Tours Annual Conference, Workshops and Tours
www.npss.sk.ca/docs/2_pdf/ Native_Plant_Market_Assess ment_final_report.pdf
% of repondents 30% How many years have you been in the native plant materials business? 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Less than 1 year 1-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21-25 years 26-30 years 31-35 years 36-40 years More than 40 years Good mixture of experience and start-ups will ensure a constant supply of native plant materials and experience for restoration projects.
% of respondents During the last year, how much of your work time is devoted to the native plant materials business? 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 0% 1-20% 21-40% 41-60% 61-80% 81-100% % of work time devoted to native plant materials Majority of providers are part-time; less than 25% are full-time.
% of respondents % of respondents 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% In 2009, estimate your total native clean seed production from wild harvesting? 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% In 2009, estimate your total native clean seed production from cultivation? Pounds of seed Pounds of seed
On-farm sales Contract Farmer s market Roadside stands Mail order Internet Radio Newspaper/newsletter/flyer s Event sponsorship/attendance Other (please specify) % of respondents How do you market your native plant materials? 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 58.3% 36.1% 16.7% 22.2% 50.0% 16.7% 30.6% 38.9% 10% 0% 0.0% 0.0%
Last year, how difficult was it for you to find buyers for your native plant material that you had for sale? 6.3% It was very difficult to find buyers 53.1% 40.6% It was somewhat difficult to find buyers I had no difficulty finding buyers Almost 50% had difficulty finding buyers for their native plant material. Nearly 80% didn t sell all of their native plant material in a year. Major reason was basically a lack of demand. Of those that didn t sell all, the average carryover was
Oil and gas (reclamation) Sand and gravel (reclamation) Roadways and railways (reclamation) Mines (reclamation) Agriculture Horticulture Landscaping Wildlife habitat restoration Wetland restoration Medicinal uses Reforestation Personal use Don't know Other % of sales 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% In an average year, what percentage of your native plant materials is sold to the following sectors? Restoration/reclamation were the major destinations (however, horticulture also quite high).
Native plants perform better than introduced species. Because of regulations/guidelines governing the industry. Because of a desire to replicate a natural community. To increase diversity. Personal preference. Other (please specify) % of respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Why are native plant materials used in your particular sector? Only 20% of respondents used native plant materials because they had to.
A Saskatchewan supplier for the plant material I wanted did not exist. The price for the plant material I wanted was lower outside of Saskatchewan. The quality of the plant material in Saskatchewan did not meet my standards. Other (please specify) % of respondents 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% In recent years, if you live in Saskatchewan and the native plant material you used was purchased outside of Saskatchewan, what was the reason? 70% of people who bought native plant materials out of province did so because they couldn t find a local supply.
Are you satisfied with the selection of native species available? 27.9% Yes No 72.1% 72% of users not happy with the selection of native species. May lead to less diverse restorations.
Providers and users need to work together more closely. Users need to understand provider s operations and processes, and communicate what they need in a timely manner. FORWARD CONTRACTING. Providers need to better understand the market and their customers, and become involved very early in the restoration process. Industry needs to be more unified
Royal Saskatchewan Museum Regina Plains Native Plant Seed Nursery
Indian Head PFRA Tree Nursery
SaskPower s Shand Greenhouse
Swift Current Ag Canada Research Station
Canadian Wildlife Service
South of the Divide Conservation Action Plan The Multi-Species Action Plan focuses on 13 species at risk Black-Footed Ferret Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Burrowing Owl Eastern Yellow-Bellied Racer Greater Sage-Grouse Long-Billed Curlew McCown s Longspur Mormon Metalmark Mountain Plover Northern Leopard Frog Prairie Loggerhead Shrike Sprague s Pipit Swift Fox
Meewasin
City of Saskatoon
Landscaping: Permaculture / Xeriscaping/ Rain Gardens
Saskatchewan Prescribed Burning Exchange
Renny W. Grilz, P.Ag. Resource Management Officer Meewasin Valley Authority Email: rgrilz@meewasin.com Office: (306)665-6887 Cell: (306)262-4970