Inspiring the next generation: Local landowners lead grassland conservation at Sage Creek Prairie
Press Release
September 10, 2025
In Saskatchewan’s Sage Creek Prairie, near Swift Current, two dedicated landowners have partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to protect 25 hectares of one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems: the Prairie grasslands. Their property, now under a conservation agreement with NCC, helps connect key habitat in the region and serves as the home base for the Sage Creek Prairie School, where Kristen Simonson and Garry Koebel offer immersive outdoor education programs that foster connections to nature and stewardship of the land.
Bordering NCC’s 286-hectare Cave Pasture property, the newly protected area helps connect a broader area that stretches across southwestern Saskatchewan. This network of connected habitats supports wildlife movement, seasonal migration, genetic diversity and climate resilience. It also provides vital habitat for species such as pronghorn, mule deer, white-tailed deer, foxes and badgers, along with species listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, including loggerhead shrike (threatened), Sprague’s pipit (threatened), lesser yellowlegs (threatened) and long-billed curlew (special concern).
During field data collection, NCC staff observed stone features on the property, which were later visited with Blackfoot elders from the Piikani and Kainai Nation in southwest Alberta. The elders identified these features as navigational wheels, an important part of Blackfoot cultural history, traditionally used to guide travellers across the vast Prairie landscape. Their presence highlights the deep connection Indigenous Peoples have with these lands and the enduring significance of grasslands as both an ecological and cultural treasure.
This important purchase was made possible through the support of generous donors and funding from the partnership between NCC and the Government of Canada, along with the Weston Family Foundation Prairie Grasslands Initiative.
Quotes
“The Prairie grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, and every small piece conserved helps protect biodiversity. We are honoured to be part of this conservation effort, ensuring that some of our favourite species, like sharp-tailed grouse, crocus and chokecherry, continue to thrive. Through the Sage Creek Prairie School, we invite people to experience this landscape first-hand — learning, playing and building a deeper connection with the land. By fostering understanding and stewardship, we hope to create a future where conservation and balance guide our relationship with grasslands.” – Kristen Simonson, Sage Creek Prairie landowner, with her husband Garry Koebel.
“The Sage Creek Prairie conservation agreement is truly unique. It’s inspiring to work with landowners who not only recognize the ecological value of this land but who are also deeply committed to conserving it for future generations. Their passion for sharing this space through outdoor education aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are excited to support their efforts in fostering a deeper connection between people and nature. Partnerships like this are essential to ensuring these landscapes continue to thrive.”– Michael Burak, Acting Director of Conservation in Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“Protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change takes more than individual efforts. It calls for collaboration, connection and long-term commitment. Through the Landscape Resiliency Program, the Government of Canada is working with partners like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to help build a strong, living network of healthy, well-connected landscapes. These efforts support wildlife, respect cultural heritage and help ensure that future generations inherit not only thriving ecosystems, but a deeper connection to the land itself.”– The Honourable Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
Facts
- This project is part of the Landscape Resiliency Program, a partnership between the Nature Conservancy Canada and the Government of Canada to support resilient landscapes by conserving up to 30,000 hectares near other protected areas.
- Strategically conserving land expands habitat connectivity, helping to ensure that nature can continue to deliver the services that all living beings depend on, such as flood mitigation, carbon sequestration and pollination.
- Keeping critical wildlife corridors open and free from human development ensures that animals have safe places to live and move freely.
- The Sage Creek Prairie project also exemplifies a dedicated commitment to safeguarding grasslands under NCC’s Prairie Grasslands Action Plan — a comprehensive strategy aimed at conserving more than 500,000 hectares by 2030. This is an area six times the size of Calgary and equivalent to what will be lost if we don’t act now to protect the grasslands that remain.
- Grasslands filter water, provide protection from floods and droughts, and store billions of tonnes of carbon. Learn more about how you can take action to care for Canada’s iconic Prairie grasslands at prairiegrasslands.ca.
Images: Sage Creek Prairie (Photos by Gabe Dipple):
About
As Canada’s largest environmental charity, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has worked with partners to conserve natural landscapes since 1962. Together, we deliver solutions to address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale and long-term conservation. We create lasting change for the planet and its people by partnering with Indigenous Nations and communities, governments and businesses around shared interests. Nature makes it possible. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
The Landscape Resiliency Program is a collaboration between the Government of Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) that will conserve up to 30,000 hectares of forests, wetlands, shoreline areas and grasslands. A total of $26 million will be invested from now through May 2028 to strengthen landscape resiliency and create connected pathways for the movement and dispersal of wildlife. The conservation of these areas will help reverse biodiversity loss and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Government of Canada and NCC share a common goal of protecting the ecological integrity of these lands and waters for today and for the future by working with local landowners, partners, Indigenous Nations and communities.
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Daphne May
Director of Communications and Engagement
306-715-2983
Daphne.May@natureconservancy.ca
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