Saskatchewan has a unique ecosystem which Nature Conservancy Canada is helping to conserve. It’s the Southwest Sandhills with regions from East of Swift Current heading west through Maple Creek and the Alberta border and further north to Kindersley.

NCC Saskatchewan spokesperson, Kristen Martin, explains that this ecosystem supports a diverse community of species, some of which are endangered, like the Ord’s kangaroo rat.  She describes it as looking more like a mini kangaroo than a rat, with big, long hind feet. It’s only found in the sandhills.

The Southwest Sandhills area includes large tracts of intact native grasslands, sand dunes, and sandy prairie, including the Great Sand Hills. NCC owns some land in the region for conservation and the rest is crown land and private landowners.

Recently, SaskEnergy pledged $75,000 over three years to fund stewardship, conservation planning and partnerships with the goal of sustaining the unique species and habitats in this area.