FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL PASTURE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Released on February 20, 1998

An agreement signed today between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and

Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM) will mean a

new partnership in maintaining the health of Saskatchewan's native

prairie.



Ralph Goodale, Natural Resources Minister and Minister responsible for

Saskatchewan in the federal cabinet, on behalf of Agriculture and

Agri-Food Canada Minister Lyle Vanclief and Saskatchewan Environment

and Resource Management Minister Lorne Scott today signed a

Representative Areas Network Memorandum of Understanding at the

tri-annual Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference in

Saskatoon.



The Representative Areas Network is composed of land and water areas

selected to represent the natural ecological and biological diversity

of the province. These areas are managed to retain their diverse

ecosystems. Through the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration

(PFRA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada manages 723,130 hectares

(1,786,830 acres) of Community Pastures in the province. Under the

agreement, these pastures will be included in the Representative Areas

Network.



"The signing of the agreement signals a higher level of

co-operation on the management of pasture," Goodale said. "The

Government of Canada is proud of the land management practices

contained in the PFRA Community Pastures program. These

practices have played an important role in conserving native

prairie in Saskatchewan and are consistent with the goals

outlined in the recently released document, Biodiversity in

Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Action Plan."



"This agreement is an excellent example of federal and provincial

co-operation in recognizing the need to examine and sustain our

important prairie ecology and biodiversity," Scott said. "The

Representative Areas Network is a vital component of

Saskatchewan's efforts to understand and achieve ecosystem health

and we are pleased with the support and co-operation this

initiative has received from so many partners."



Under the agreement, a committee of federal and provincial

representatives and livestock producers will consult on the

ongoing management of the pastures. The agreement acknowledges

the continuing contribution of federal lands, managed by PFRA, to

conservation and will help ensure continued conservation of rare

species habitats.



-30-



For more information, contact:



Nancy Cherney Gerry Luciuk

Saskatchewan Environment PFRA - Agriculture and

and Resource Management Agri-Food Canada

Regina Regina

Phone: (306) 787-2796 Phone: (306) 780-5082