The Alberta government has recently eliminated habitat protections for the endangered greater sage grouse, a move that has sparked concerns among conservationists. The province’s amendments to the Public Lands Act in July resulted in the removal of safeguards for the bird in designated protection and recovery zones. Concurrently, Thor Resources, a helium extraction company, received new approval to operate within the specified greater sage grouse habitat.
Designated as an endangered species by both the Alberta and federal governments, the greater sage grouse is facing a critical situation with fewer than 100 birds remaining in Alberta. The population decline of 98 percent from 1968 to 2012 was primarily attributed to habitat loss and industrial development, leading to the species now occupying only about seven percent of its historical range.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce, a long-time advocate for greater sage grouse conservation, expressed alarm over the removal of provincial protections, warning that it puts the remaining sage grouse population in Alberta at a high risk of extinction. Boyce criticized the government’s actions, stating that the province prioritizes industrial development over conservation efforts, potentially leading to the loss of the most endangered vertebrate species in Canada.
In response to criticisms, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas communications director Andrew Livingstone defended the changes, emphasizing that the amendments aimed to simplify regulatory requirements and provide flexibility for proponents operating in southeastern Alberta. Livingstone highlighted the province’s commitment to supporting a sage grouse recovery program focused on achieving conservation goals while balancing the needs of a growing economy.
Conservationists, including Joshua Killeen from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, expressed dismay at the lifting of provincial habitat protections, noting that it undermines years of conservation efforts and places the species at a greater risk of disappearing from Alberta and potentially Canada. Despite the removal of provincial protections, federal safeguards for a portion of Alberta’s greater sage grouse habitat remain in place through an emergency order issued in 2014.
The helium industry, represented by Thor Resources and the Helium Developers Association of Canada, welcomed the removal of habitat protections, citing the need to balance environmental concerns with economic development. Richard Dunn, the association’s executive director, emphasized the importance of access to areas for economic growth, suggesting that stringent habitat protections impede development opportunities.