The Nature Conservancy of Canada – Protecting our Grasslands (Part 1)

Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada’s plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC’s work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet’s most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet’s most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world’s most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta’s Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC’s) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you’ll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required