News & Events

ANPC Guidelines for Rare Vascular Plant Surveys in Alberta - 2012 Update

2012-05-14T19:52:15Z

The Alberta Native Plant Council announces the release of the ANPC Guidelines for Rare Vascular Plant Surveys in Alberta - Update 2012. These guidelines expand on the study design and reporting presented in the original guidelines (Lancaster, 2000), and also provides current internet links to useful publications and references.

The guidelines can be found here (pdf). More information about the ANPC can be found at their website: www.anpc.ab.ca (opens in new window).

2012 FRF Range Health Assessment Course, 22 June

2012-05-10T21:34:55Z

The Foothills Restoration Forum is pleased to present a Range Health Assessment training course designed to assist reclamation professionals to prepare for the upcoming field season. The course will provide an understanding of the importance of healthy functioning rangelands and the key indicators used to measure rangeland health. The Range Health Assessment protocol is an important tool for pre- site assessments, reclamation design, and monitoring in native grassland. Landowners and local ranchers are welcome to join us for the day!

The course will take place on June 22nd, 2012 at Willow Creek Provincial Park, which will provide field based experience within the Mixedgrass and Foothills Fescue Natural Subregions. We are scheduled to begin at 9:30am and wind up by 4:30pm at the latest. Fees for the day will be $120.00 per person and will include lunch; cash or cheques payable to SASCI only.

Those interested in participating can register here. Students interested in attending are asked to contact us directly at corpirate@shaw.ca.

23rd North American Prairie Conference. 6-10 August, 2012.

2012-03-16T21:54:27Z

From NAPC Website:

We are pleased to announce the first ever NAPC in western Canada, which will be held August 6 to 10, 2012 at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Building upon the tradition started by Peter Schramm in 1970 with the first conference on prairies and prairie restoration, the NAPC has developed a tradition of excellence in native prairie research, conservation and restoration of one of the worlds most productive yet most endangered ecosystems. It has spawned great interest, enthusiasm and efforts to better understand, appreciate, manage and conserve this vital part of North America’s natural history.

Our theme Celebrating Our Prairie Heritage is meant to explore where we have been, our current state of knowledge and where we should be heading, and have a great time doing it. Many have been inspired by previous NAPC’s to discover more about our fascinating prairie ecosystems, their natural and human history, creating a lifetime passion for one of the world’s greatest grasslands.

We salute those who have made the prairie home, from the hunters and gatherers of distant millennia to the hardy pioneers who made this great land the worlds breadbasket, to the modern mix of individuals, families, businesses and communities who now look to understand, conserve, restore and celebrate one of the nature’s greatest gifts to humankind. Come celebrate the prairies with us in Winnipeg in August 2012, and take a closer look.

Location: University of Manitoba Campus, Winnipeg, MB.

Contatct: info@napc2012.org

For a more detailed description of the conference, as well as registration and schedule information, see the conference website at www.napc2012.org(link).

2012 Plant Identification Course. 11-14 June, 2012.

2012-03-13T21:50:48Z

Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds Ltd. is pleased to host a 2012 plant identification
course. The course will be held in three components, Forbs, Grasses and
willows/sedges. Each component will involve a classroom component but will focus on
field keying and identification using The Common Plants of The Western Rangelands as
a text. It is possible to attend any combination of days, but attending the first day of the
Grass course is highly recommended if attending the second day. Pricing, schedule, and what to bring in course outline.

Location: Cochrane and Cermona, Alberta.

Contact: Phone - (403) 437-9052. Email - steven.tannas@esrseeds.com

Course Outline (pdf)

February Native Prairie Speaker Series, 22 February, 2012

2012-02-16T22:06:21Z

The February Native Prairie Speaker Series in Saskatoon, SK will be taking place on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at the following times and locations below:

Technical (12:10-12:50 pm): University of Saskatchewan, Physics Building (116 Science Place), Rm 129
The Road Less Travelled...by Rare Plants Looking for a Home
Speaker: Darcy Henderson, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service

Public (7:00 - 8:00 pm): Western Development Museum (2610 Lorne Ave. South), Palace Theatre
Turkey Vultures: Parents in Absentia
Speaker: Stuart Houston

The Speaker Series are FREE and anyone can attend. If you can not make it person, you can also watch the presentation LIVE by clicking on the following link www.ustream.tv/channel/native-prairie-speaker-series.

Technical Presentation Poster (pdf)

Public Presentation Poster (pdf)

February Native Prairie Speaker Series in Saskatoon, SK on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at the following times and locations below:

National Invasive Alien Species Forum, 28 and 29 February, 2012

2012-01-23T21:36:04Z

You are invited to the upcoming National Invasive Alien Species Forum, in Ottawa on February 28 and 29, followed by workshops on March 1st. This event will be a special opportunity to network and collaborate with colleagues from across Canada on topics including:

Prevention
Early Detection and Rapid Response

The two workshops will focus on:

Information sharing and management
Building national collaboration

Event planning is underway by the National Invasive Species Forum Planning Committee. Attached is the registration form. A detailed agenda will be available in mid- February.

On behalf of the National Invasive Species Planning Group and the National Invasive Species Working Group, we hope to see you in Ottawa.

Agenda (pdf)

Registration Form (pdf)

Southern Alberta Invasive Plant Seminar 16 February, 2012

2012-01-15T22:05:57Z

The Alberta Invasive Plants Council will be presenting the 2012 Southern Alberta Invasive Plant Seminar on Thursday, 16 February, 2012 at the Picture Butte Community Centre, beginning at 9:00am.

There will be three speakers:

Dave Burch – Montana State Weed Coordinator

Dr. Jane Mangold – Assistant Professor and Extension Invasive Plant Specialist, Montana State University

Kelly Cooley – AIPC Project Lead, EDDMapS Alberta, and Environmental Consultant, CoolPro Solutions

The cost is $15.00 cash or cheque at the door, and lunch will be provided. You can RSVP by email (aipc.programdirector@gmail.com) or phone (403-982-7923).

Seminar Outline (pdf)

FRF Fall Information Session October 6th, 2011

2011-08-09T14:54:28Z

This year's fall information session will be held on October 6th, 2011 at the Cowley District Hall in the Village of Cowley, Alberta. Theme for this year's Fall Forum is: “Developing practical solutions to reduce industrial disturbance in native grasslands” Incorporating local knowledge of the climate and landscape, with new technology, innovative construction and reclamation techniques to reduce industrial footprint. Keynote Speaker: Doug Kulba, Resource Assurance Specialist with the Regional Integration Branch of Alberta Environment.

Step Forward & Plant Your Own Seeds – Newsletter Submissions

2011-02-04T02:37:33Z

We are currently accepting submissions for the 4th Edition of the Foothills Restoration Forum Newsletter, The Hard Grass Advocate. Anyone with an interest in the land is welcome to submit. The purpose of the Newsletter is to provide a readily accessible medium for information sharing, focused on the maintenance and restoration of native plant communities on the Eastern Slopes and would like you to share your research, experiences and lessons so we can all move forward together!

Alberta Prairie Conservation Action Plan

2011-01-11T00:09:06Z

The Prairie Conservation Forum has been working on a new Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) throughout 2010. This new plan will, like previous plans, cover a 5-year period (2011-2015). The PCAP committee will be holding information sessions in Calgary and Lethbridge to go over the draft document, answer questions, and receive suggestions/comments from members. These sessions are open to all staff within our member organizations, and we encourage you to come to one of these sessions about the plan.

A draft of the plan can be viewed below, as well as an information pamphlet on how to attend a PCAP Briefing Session.

Alberta Prarie Conservation Action Plan: 2011-2015

Prarie Conservation Forum

Prarie Conservation Action Plan Briefing Sessions

Prarie Conservation Forum