HOW TO PROTECT

	- J. Markewich

Careful land use is not yet the norm in our society. A focus on economic development often side-steps the need for cautious land use planning and activities that protect, maintain and where necessary, restore natural biological diversity. More and more, natural ecosystems are undergoing change and destruction as people cut, mine, till, drain, dam, pollute and extract from the land.

Ecosystem-based approaches to land use are needed in our province -- approaches that allow people's needs to be met while protecting the land, water and the resources they sustain.

CPAWS work often embraces a method of conservation planning called ecosystem-based management. As the phrase implies, it is managing human activities in our part of the world with the health of the ecosystem in mind. Connecting ecosystems is an important aspect of ecosystem-based management. Cultural-based planning (CBP) is also an important aspect. CBP identifies knowledge and wisdom of indigenous and other local peoples about their homelands and culture. Their information helps to delineate important places to protect.

Land use planning is usually a government-led management process that brings people together to discuss issues and develop management options for human land use in specified areas. In Saskatchewan, land use planning does not yet address long-term ecosystem health. The focus is on human activities and economic development. Today's challenge is to educate and encourage governments to conduct management planning for landscapes such that ecosystem health is a foundation for all decision-making.

LEARN MORE:

About Protected Areas What is protection and why we should protect areas.

Saskatchewan's Protected Areas Types of protected areas, existing protected areas and proposed protected areas.

Government Protected Area Programs Learn about the RAN, government commitments and the state of protected areas in Saskatchewan

CPAWS Work CPAWS Saskatchewan's work to protect forest and prairie ecosystems