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The
Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS) is the first community-based,
rancher-driven land conservation organization in Canada. SALTS accomplishments
since its founding include:
- acquiring more than fifteen conservation easements, permanently preserving in excess of 9,000 acres of land for ranching and wildlife uses;
- establishing Canada's first program to integrate land conservation into agricultural estate and succession planning;
- producing booklets about land conservation mechanisms, including conservation easements, that are being used to develop community-based programs throughout Canada;
- coordinating the Southern Foothills Study on cumulative effects of development on the southern foothills ecosystems with Dr. Brad Stelfox
- running awareness and education programs on the threats of invasive alien plants (weeds) to the native fescue grassland
- developing a public awareness program about the importance of ranching and rangeland conservation that includes public presentations, a display, educational tours and a website; and
- having its work featured in magazine articles, radio programs, television programs, public presentations, and newspaper articles.
Countryside Canada Stewardship
Recognition Award
In March 2001, SALTS
received word that it had won a Countryside
Canada Stewardship Recognition Award.
The Countryside Canada award program is
jointly managed by Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. It is
a "national program designed to strengthen conservation practices within the agricultural
sector by recognizing and awarding the exemplary stewardship efforts of Canadian farmers and
ranchers."
Their awards
recognized organizations with exceptional on-going programs focused
on awareness and understanding,
especially those which encourage and promote the stewardship efforts of
farmers and ranchers to non-agricultural audiences.
Emerald Award
Winner
On June 18, 2001, SALTS
was honoured to receive a prestigious Emerald Award in the category of "not-for-profit
association, operating budget less than $500,000."
These awards are provided
by the
Alberta Emerald Foundation for Environmental
Excellence, and are given "to recognize the outstanding initiative and
leadership Albertans are demonstrating in the face of environmental
challenges."
The Directors and
Staff of SALTS are happy to hold these awards on behalf of
all the partners to whom we turn to make our
programs happen. SALTS is particularly grateful to the ranchers whose
stewardship ethic make our work possible.
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