The Association of Manitoba Community Pastures (AMCP) has been recognized by the Province of Manitoba.

The group has picked up the 2017 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award for Sustainability in Water and Natural Area Stewardship.

The AMCP is committed to ensuring that Manitoba’s community pastures provide valuable grazing land for cattle producers as well as protect some of the last remaining natural prairie ecosystems in the province. The AMCP operates 20 community pastures, covering over 350,000 acres and represents some of the largest contiguous blocks of native grasslands remaining in the province. Benefits of the program include water filtration and retention, carbon sequestration, soil conservation and protection of wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Honourable mention went to Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) for its Species at Risk Partnership on Agricultural Lands Initiative. MBP has taken the lead role in implementing land conservation programming to support the challenge of enhancing habitats for species at risk in agricultural landscapes. After only one year of operation, the program has already influenced over 4,000 hectares. Some of the highest priority ‘at-risk’ grassland bird species will be positively impacted by changes to grazing practices which are also expected to improve long-term productivity for cattle producers. These changes also improve water infiltration to soils, carbon sequestration and habitat enhancements that will benefit biological diversity well beyond the species at risk.

“We continue to be encouraged and amazed by the individuals, organizations and communities making a difference in our world,” Squires said. “I’d like to congratulate these award winners for their efforts and their dedication to their communities,” said Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires.

The Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards honour people, projects and ideas that successfully turn the province’s principles and guidelines of sustainable development into concrete and lasting achievements.