STURGEON RIVER PLAINS BISON STEWARDS

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STURGEON RIVER PLAINS BISON STEWARDS

• GRASSROOTS MANAGEMENT OF A NATIONAL TREASURE

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• POST HOLE DIGGER

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HISTORY OF THE STURGEON RIVER PLAINS BISON HERD

• RELEASED IN 1969 NEAR MONTREAL LAKE, SK
• MOVED TO SOUTHWEST CORNER OF PRINCE ALBERT
  NATIONAL PARK
• MOST WERE CAPTURED AND TRANSPORTED TO OTHER AREAS
• ESTIMATED 6 TO 19 BISON REMAINED IN PARK
• HERD PEAKED AT 450, NOW ESTIMATED AT 325 ANIMALS

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SOME FACTS

• CANADAS ONLY FREE RANGING HERD STILL WITHIN
  HISTORIC PLAINS BISON TERRITORY
• COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WILDLIFE IN CANADA
  (COSEWIC) DESIGNATED PLAINS BISON AS THREATENED
  MAY 2004
• DENIED DESIGNATION AS SPECIES AT RISK UNDER
  SPECIES AT RISK ACT IN 2005

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AS TIME GOES ON
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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SRPBS?

• ADDRESS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
• EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
• FACILITATE SOLID COMMUNICATION

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4 MAJOR PARTNERS

• PRINCE ALBERT NATIONAL PARK
• SASKATCHEWAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
• STURGEON RIVER PLAINS BISON STEWARDS
• LOCAL LANDOWNERS

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OTHER PARTNERS

• PRINCE ALBERT MODEL FOREST
• 3 RURAL MUNICIPALITIES
• BIG RIVER FIRST NATION
• INNOVATIVE NATURAL RESOURCE SOLUTIONS
• PARKLAND AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP PLAN
• WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
• AMERICAN BISON SOCIETY
• CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE
• WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
• CANADIAN BISON ASSOCIATION
• SASK. BOREAL FOREST LEARNING CENTER
• UNIVERSITE LAVAL
• SASKATCHEWAN WATERSHED AUTHORITY
• LOCAL ECO-TOURISM OPERATORS

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SRPBS PROGRAMS

• HAZING BISON OFF SENSITIVE LAND
• DIVERSIONARY FENCING
• ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLANS
• LONG TERM MANAGEMENT PLANNING
• BISON TIMES NEWSLETTER
• BISON ON THE EDGE CONFERENCE, JUNE 2010
• UPCOMING EASEMENT PURCHASE PROPOSAL

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JOINT EFFORTS

• SAKAW MOSTOS EDUCATION PROJECT
• BISON AND VEGETATION MONITORING
• PRESENTATIONS AND MEDIA
• 2008 ANTHRAX OUTBREAK

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WHATS OUR FORMULA?

• COOPERATION
• BALANCE
• STRONG LOCAL INVOLVEMENT
• HANDS ON MANAGEMENT
• FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION
• STAY WITH IT

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FACES
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OUR OFFICE
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KEEP IT REAL
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LEAVING A LEGACY
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THANK YOU