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Q. What is the purpose of the study?
A. The purpose of the Southern Foothills Study (SFS) is to create a base of accurate data on cumulative land use trends within the study area and to initiate a discussion on how the natural ecological assets and services of this area can be protected into the future within the context of a provincial priority land use policy.
Q. What Outcome is expected from the Study?
A. The study will produce a great deal of data about possible and probable land use trends in the study area. This data will be gathered into a presentation format to inform stakeholders, and the base data will be useful to agencies tasked with landscape planning. Further work on best management practices will examine how existing and possible future development on the landscape can operate without degrading the natural ecological assets and services.
Q. Is the Study focused on the Oil and Gas Industry?
A. The ALCES model looks at all land uses including both anthropogenic (human created) and natural regimes (eg. fire). The purpose of the study is to provide information on the cumulative impact of all land uses, both current and projected, within the study area. No single industrial or agricultural activity is singled out for special study or treatment.
Q. Why are you doing the study now?
A. The success of the Alberta economy is attracting people and business to southern Alberta in ever-increasing numbers. An increasing population means more demands on a fixed land base. We believe that the pace of development in this ecosystem, which is also a key watershed, requires that we look at improved planning now before the ecological services that this area provides are compromised.
Q. Is the government involved in the study?
A. While this is a landowner initiative, we have had cooperation from both local government and the provincial government. Government has provided some excellent base data for the study.
Q. Will this study conflict with the current provincial government initiative to create a land use framework and proceed with detail Integrated Land Management planning?
A. There is no conflict. Once the study results are available we expect to work with the provincial government which is developing land use plans for the province. We are interested in landuse plans that properly balance the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders in this key ecosystem, and especially the safety, health, and prosperity of the people who live on this land. The study results will help all parties make better decisions.
Q. What is ALCES?
A. ALCESŪ (Alberta Landscape Cumulative Effects Simulator) is a fast user-friendly landscape simulator that enables resource managers, the scientific community, and the general public to explore and quantify dynamic landscapes subjected to single or multiple human landuse practices and various natural disturbance regimes (such as fire). It was developed by Dr. Brad Stelfox of Forem Technologies.
Q. What is that bird on the Logo?
A. The bird on the Southern Foothills Study logo is a ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis). This beautiful raptor is seen along the southern Alberta foothills and is listed as a species at risk. Often seen while soaring, these hawks are rust-colored on the back and shoulders, mostly white under the wings and on the breast, belly, and tail. The rust-colored legs contrast with the white body and look like a dark "V" when the bird is flying overhead. This is the largest hawk in North America, with a 53" wing-span. It gets its name, Ferruginous (fer-OO-jin-us) from the red coloration, like rusty iron (ferrous). Read more about it at its own website.
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