Manitoba’s mixed-grass and tall-grass prairie stewardship

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With support from the Government of Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program (Species at Risk Stream), the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC) led a three-year habitat stewardship project from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016 to protect the native mixed-grass and tall-grass prairie habitats for southern Manitoban species at risk (SAR).

Why this project is important

The native mixed-grass and tall-grass prairie in the aspen parklands of southern Manitoba provide habitat for at least 30 species listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), including the Endangered Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis), Endangered Small White Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium candidum), and Threatened Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii). Native prairie habitats are among the most endangered ecosystems in Canada and are being lost and degraded due to invasive species and conversion to agricultural uses.

What was done

MHHC engaged cattle producers in conservation easements to retain the ecological integrity of species at risk habitats on their properties. Willing cattle producers were also approached about enhancing native prairie in their pastures using shrub mowing and prescribed burning techniques. In addition, MHHC conducted inventories of mixed-grass prairie habitats to identify and prioritize project sites for sustainable management or securement activities to benefit species at risk. MHHC monitored species at risk and invasive species in the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve to guide habitat management and enhancement activities. Finally, MHHC conducted outreach to guide landowners in undertaking recovery actions.

Achievements of this project

• Through conservation easements, secured 1,938 ha of priority native mixed-grass prairie for protection of SAR habitat.
• Enhanced 2,847 ha of native mixed-grass prairie grassland through grazing management and shrub and invasive species control.
• Surveyed approximately 29,600 ha of mixed-grass prairie habitat and 365 km of road allowances for species at risk, and inventoried over 34,000 SARA-listed organisms (24 distinct species).
• Surveyed approximately 90 properties and 180 km of road allowances to discover new species at risk locations and identify areas of invasive species in the Manitoba Tall-grass Prairie Preserve. Data collected will be used to guide future habitat protection and stewardship activities.

Significance of this project

MHHC delivered diverse and complementary conservation approaches to benefit multiple species at risk in southern Manitoba’s mixed-grass and tall-grass prairies through habitat protection and enhancement guided by species at risk inventories.

Habitat stewardship program - Species at risk stream
Email: ec.pih-hsp.ec@canada.ca