Conservation Easements
Conservation Easements
Native grasslands are an important part of Saskatchewan’s working landscape, providing forage for livestock, habitat for wildlife, and a host of other ecological benefits. For landowners looking to conserve these landscapes while continuing to use their land for livestock production, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation offers both Term and Perpetual Conservation Easement options.
Term Conservation Easements provide a flexible, time-limited approach to conservation. In exchange for financial compensation based on a percentage of the fair market value, landowners agree to protect their native grasslands from breaking, draining, and development for a specified period of time. The land remains privately owned and can continue to support agricultural operations, including grazing and haying. Minimum term lengths are 25 years with the option to explore 30, 35, 40 and 45 year terms depending on the operational needs. There are no specific management actions landowners need to take other than maintaining their rangelands in good condition established with a baseline report created by the SSGF following rangeland health assessments. A term conservation easement can be a good fit for landowners who want to contribute to grassland conservation while maintaining flexibility for the future.
For landowners interested in permanent protection, SSGF also offers Perpetual Conservation Easements. These easements provide long-term protection for native grasslands, helping ensure that the land remains intact and its conservation values are maintained for generations to come. Like a Term Conservation Easement, a Perpetual Conservation Easement allows the land to remain in private ownership and continue to be used as a working landscape, subject to the terms of the easement. These easements stay on the land title indefinitely, regardless of changes in ownership. For perpetual easements, it can be donated and viewed as a charitable gift by Canada Revenue Agency under the Ecological Gifts Program.
Both options are designed to support producer-led conservation by working with landowners to find an approach that aligns with their operation, their land, and their long-term goals. Whether you are interested in protecting your native grasslands for a set period or permanently, SSGF can help you explore the options available and determine which type of conservation easement may be the right fit for your ranch.
At the SSGF, we are different than other land conservation organizations. We focus on conserving rangelands primarily managed by cow-calf producers, we are the first and only Saskatchewan-based provincial land conservation organization and maintain a Board that is primarily agricultural producers. We work with ranchers to find the program that will best work for their operation