The hot, dry, SE corner of Alberta poses unique challenges for restoration of disturbances in native rangelands to native cover. Initiatives are underway on both large and small disturbances to de-fragment the landscape to improve critical sage grouse habitat.

GRF is hosting a one-day field tour based at Manyberries Community Hall, Alberta, designed for reclamation practitioners and others with an interest in rangelands, looking at:

• Cropland conversion to native cover projects.

• Oil and gas reclamation / restoration projects in critical sage grouse habitat.

• Regional reclamation challenges and beneficial practices

Target Audience Reclamation practitioners, ranchers, industry environment and construction managers, anyone interested in learning more about the challenges and practicalities of reclamation with a view to restoration in the Dry Mixedgrass and Mixedgrass Natural Subregions of Alberta.

Workshop Objectives

• Tour sites with reclamation professionals involved in several cropland conversion projects of various ages, reclaimed using direct seeding and broadcast seeding, on Loamy and Solonetzic soils. 
• Tour active oil and gas reclamation projects working to meet restoration requirements in critical sage grouse habitat.
• Discussions of the challenges and solutions to restoration in this challenging environment.