Working Together for Prairie Conservation...
Our remaining native prairie is a valuable resource that touches many lives and many interest groups. Some, such as ranchers, rely on the sustainable use of prairie for their livelihood. For others, native prairie may be of cultural, spiritual or recreational importance. Many landowners, land managers, all governance types (Federal, Provincial, local and Indigenous) and nongovernment agencies play a role in the stewardship and protection of native prairie as well, representing many interests.
Integrating these efforts and defining common outcomes among the players is fundamental to effective prairie conservation. Since 1998, the Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) Partnership has brought together agencies and organizations
representing producers, industry, provincial and federal governments, non-government organizations and research and educational institutions under a common vision for prairie and species at risk conservation in Saskatchewan.
The PCAP Partnership works to:
- Develop and foster common vision and goals, identify priority issues and develop and implement actions to address conservation and sustainable management of native prairie;
- Identify and fill gaps in native prairie research and activities among the partners, reducing duplication;
- Improve public understanding and valuing of native prairie through initiatives such as the Native Prairie Appreciation Week;
- Share ideas and find common ground where possible while respecting different perspectives.
A Sustainable Partnership
Partners work with a diverse mix of stakeholders to deliver conservation activities, benefiting the cultural, economic & ecological fabric of Saskatchewan. New partners & stakeholders are invited to join the Partnership on an annual basis. Key and unique to this partnership is the collaboration with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), a non-profit entity, that provides a Chair and a Representative to the Partnership as a means to recognize the critical importance of the ranching community to the conservation of native prairie, and to emphasize how central the concept of a working landscape is to the vision of the PCAP Partnership. A number of the Partners provide financial or in-kind contributions toward the PCAP administration and all of them contribute to the realization of the Partnership objectives.
The SK PCAP Partnership recognizes the importance of partnerships beyond Saskatchewan borders including within Canada and internationally, as this allows for consultation on common issues and sharing of resources, experiences and solutions for best practices. The PCAP Partnership liases regularly with the Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum, and others on the Transboundary Grasslands Partnership as well as the Central Grassland Roadmap. PCAP has also liased with various groups since its initiation, including: Alliance for the Grasslands - Initiative for the Conservation of the South American Southern Cone Grasslands in Argentina, Carolinian Canada Coalition in Ontario, Conservation of Grasslands of the Chihuahuan Desert (ECOPAD) in Chihuahua, Mexico (was modelled on PCAP) ECOPAD 2007 (English on Page 6), the Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia, the Grassland Foundation in Nebraska, US, and the Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative (TGCI).
2024-2028 Strategic Plan
SK PCAP's fifth consecutive Strategic Plan, the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan was revealed in a ceremony in November, 2024. This 5-year Framework is a long-term plan for action upon which Annual Workplans are built. The framework incorporates SK PCAP's Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles for the Partnership.
The 2024 - 2028 Strategic Plan was initiated at a workshop where partners
discussed ongoing and new challenges impacting native prairie ecosystems within
the province. Through the course of additional discussion and a second workshop, partners also reflected on initiatives that have been successful and opportunities to consider for the next five years.
Building upon valuable years of collective prairie conservation experience, the PCAP
Partnership chose to realign on the Vision, update the Mission, significantly refine
the 5-year goals, and identify key actions to advance the Mission. Through the annual cycle of the strategic planning process, PCAP Partners will
implement, measure and adjust to achieve the Mission.
