Title
10:00 a.m. Appointment - Alberta Conservation Association (Roy Schmelzeisen, Senior Biologist)
Habitat Retention Agreements
Proposed Motion
That Council direct Administration to enter into Habitat Retention Agreements with the Alberta Conservation Association, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motion.
Purpose
The Alberta Conservation Association requests to enter into agreements on County owned lands for the purpose of Habitat Retention based on the association's Mission Statement "ACA conserves, protects and enhances fish and wildlife populations and their habitats for Albertans to enjoy, value and use".
Summary
The Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) has taken over the management of the lands secured by the Province of Alberta through the former Buck for Wildlife agreement. This agreement has now expired and the ACA is looking to enter into new agreements on some of the former Buck for Wildlife lands.
The ACA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, works to promote and manage the habitat of the fish and wildlife populations within Alberta. An integral part of the association's work is to obtain rights to land for the purpose of Habitat Retention. Under program criteria, the lands chosen must hold significant conservation value, not be located in or within close vicinity to heavily populated areas and be conducive with some or all of the uses promoted under the program, such as: hunting with bow and/or rifle, bird watching, berry picking, recreation such as snow showing, hiking, and fishing.
Based on a review of the previous Buck for Wildlife lands and the needs of the ACA, the request for Habitat Retention Agreements have been received by administration for the following county owned land:
· Section 13-54-07 W5M
· NW & SE 16-51-06 W5M
· NW 26-51-06-W5M
· SE 17-51-06-W5M
The proposed term of the Habitat Retention Agreements is for 10 ye...
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