A new conservation site was unveiled Monday 40 kilometres from Moose Jaw and to be overseen by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

The property includes 866 hectares of native grasslands and seven kilometres of shoreline along the north shore of Buffalo Pound lake.

N-C-C officials point out that the grasslands help filter the drinking water for approximately one quarter of the proivnce’s population. NCC notes that native grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems in teh world and this particular piece of land is also an important wildlife habitate corridor and even home to several species listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

Now that the property has been acquired, Nature Conservancy of Canada science staff will inventory plant and animal specials in the area in order to develop a management plan.