The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association is teaming up with Parks Canada's on a unique grass bank pilot project at Grasslands National Park.

The project will see local ranchers manage grazing on about 40 thousand acres of public and private land much of which is native habitat for the Greater Sage-grouse, Sprague's Pipit, and Chestnut-collared Longspur, all of which are considered Species at Risk. 

Adriana Bacheschi is the Acting Field Unit Superintendent with Parks Canada for the South Saskatchewan Field Unit which includes Grasslands National Park. 

She says the Park has continued to grow and expand noting that there's still a lot of people that have lands that are private but within the future boundaries of the park.

"We partnering with the stock growers. The stock growers are actually going to the parks land and doing the monitoring to see if we are achieving those habitat targets for us," she said. "Then we are partnering with the landowners internally so they can graze our lands. If they achieve the habitat targets their lease fees, will be less."

The outgoing President of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Shane Jhanke says the project demonstrates the important benefit of cattle grazing for the environment. 

The Grass Bank Pilot Project for Species at Risk Habitat was announced this week during the Stock Grower's AGM and Convention.