Livestock Grazing: A Critical Tool for Supporting Saskatchewan’s Species at Risk

Paula Steckler, Senior Communications Consultant, Regina

Saskatchewan landscapes support some of the most ecologically significant and vulnerable species in Canada. More than one million acres of agricultural Crown land managed by the Ministry of Agriculture are designated as critical habitat for 24 species at risk.

While the highest concentration of critical habitats lies within the South of the Divide region in southwest Saskatchewan, critical habitats have been federally designated throughout the province. The designation of critical habitat, established under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), underscores the provincial and national importance of Saskatchewan’s working landscapes.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Crown grazing land lessees share the responsibility of maintaining and conserving critical habitat. Producers’ long-standing stewardship of rangeland positions them as essential partners in ensuring that species at risk have the habitat necessary for their survival and recovery.

Rangelands in Global Focus: The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

In 2026, countries around the world are recognizing the global importance of rangelands and the people who manage them as they celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

Pastoralists and rangeland managers play a critical role in maintaining Saskatchewan’s ecosystem health. Their knowledge, mobility and management practices help preserve landscapes that support wildlife, regulate climate and underpin global food systems. This year emphasizes the need to maintain strong rangeland management and support sustainable livestock production worldwide.

A Diverse Set of Species and Habitats

Saskatchewan’s list of species with federally designated critical habitat reflects the province’s ecological diversity. Grassland birds such as the chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit, burrowing owl, loggerhead shrike, and greater sage-grouse require expansive native prairie ecosystems. Mammals, including the swift fox and woodland caribou, rely on distinct habitat types ranging from shortgrass prairie to contiguous boreal forest.

Although these species have very different biological requirements, they share a fundamental dependence on healthy, functional landscapes, which are sustained in part through livestock grazing.

Grazing as an Ecological Process

Grazing plays a foundational ecological role in maintaining the integrity, structure and diversity of native rangeland. Livestock grazing can limit the spread of invasive species into native rangeland. It also helps to create varied vegetation heights, litter levels and plant community structures, which is essential for accommodating the distinct habitat requirements of different species at risk.

Grazing helps keep grasslands mixed, with some areas short and open and others taller and thicker. Without grazing, plants grow too tall and dense, which makes the habitat less suitable for many grassland species and gives more common, adaptable animals an advantage over the species that rely on more specialized conditions.

Supporting Native Vegetation and Specialist Species

Livestock grazing also contributes to maintaining natural vegetation on the landscape, which is crucial for many specialist species at risk. Specialist species, which depend on narrow environmental conditions, are particularly vulnerable to declines when landscapes change.

Appropriate grazing can slow or prevent these changes, preserving the open or sparsely vegetated habitats that certain plants, insects and birds require. By supporting the persistence of specialist species, grazing also helps maintain broader ecological stability across Saskatchewan’s working lands.

Water Infrastructure and Wildlife Benefits

In recent years, drought conditions have increased the importance of reliable water sources across the province. Livestock watering infrastructure can also provide ecological benefits when the locations are sited to reduce impacts to species at risk.

Strategically managed water systems can contribute to improved water quality, further supporting both livestock production and wildlife habitat.

Working Lands, Shared Stewardship

Crown grazing land lessees bring significant expertise in rangeland management.

Their stewardship ensures that livestock grazing remains compatible with conservation outcomes. Through informed grazing practices, Crown land lessees contribute meaningfully to the long-term sustainability of Saskatchewan’s species at risk and the ecosystems