For the first time, the federal government says it will introduce an emergency protection order in an attempt to save an endangered species: the greater sage grouse.

 

On Tuesday, federal environment minister Leona Aglukkaq announced that the federal government will impose restrictions to protect the sage grouse and its habitat on provincial and federal lands in Alberta and Saskatchewan. There will be no restrictions on activities on private land, nor for grazing on public lands.

 

“Through a combination of stewardship measures we are addressing the imminent threats to the greater sage grouse,” Aglukkaq said in a news release. “We will be working with provinces and stakeholders over the coming months to implement these measures.”

 

Conservationists called it a positive development, but suggested the order needs to be issued sooner rather than later.

 

“This is what we’re calling the government’s slow emergency,” said Cliff Wallis, vice-president of the Alberta Wilderness Association. “We don’t see it as a slow emergency.

 

“This is critical and the birds have suffered long enough so we need to just get on with the job.”

 

The development comes as Ecojustice lawyers — acting on behalf of the AWA, Wilderness Committee, Nature Saskatchewan and Grasslands Naturalists — were set to meet with federal lawyers and a case management judge.

 

Last month, the federal Court of Appeal struck down the government’s cabinet confidence claim and ordered it to make public the minister’s decision on whether to recommend emergency protections for the sage grouse.

 

Wallis said they are still awaiting the details on what exactly the emergency protection order will mean for the sage grouse.

 

“We don’t know how existing oil and gas will be dealt with,” he said. “Certainly we believe that it puts a cap on any new industrial activities in those areas.”

 

David Ingstrup, regional director for the Canadian Wildlife Service, said the emergency order is intended to address the imminent threats such as noise disturbance and habitat destruction.

 

“Over the coming months what you’ll see is, as we introduce this order, the details in terms of specific restrictions,” he said, noting he couldn’t say how it will affect oil and gas production. “What I can say is that the order will apply to an area we’re estimating to be about 1,200 square kilometres.”

 

Ingstrup said it’s an important step for the federal government.

 

“We feel it’s important to take some key necessary steps to address these populations,” he said.

 

There are fewer than 150 of the birds, which is known for its unique mating dance, left after its population has declined by 98 per cent since 1988.

 

“Despite some of the recovery actions we have taken, it’s still declining,” said Ingstrup. “For that reason, we think an emergency order is needed at this time.”