Western Sky Land Trust

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Stepping up for the Bow

 

Western Sky Land Trust’s Bow Initiative Aims to Drum up Support and Awareness for Bow Conservation

 

Courtesy: Wade Hawkins

 

We tend to think that the landscapes that we enjoy and define our sense of place will be around forever. Yet, as we continue to build desirable communities to live in, we must also work to conserve the landscapes we treasure.

 

Western Sky Land Trust (Western Sky) is the only locally-based, regionally-focused charitable land conservation organization that operates in both urban and rural areas. Working to conserve watershed lands, they will consider all land parcel sizes that are associated with natural, agricultural, heritage, scenic and recreational values. Since this region is one of the most challenging and expensive landscapes in the country, land conservation is only possible through the support of landowners, like-minded conservation organizations, private citizens, government and corporate partners to balance land conservation with community strategies that results in conserving landscapes for future generations.

 

The Bow River is arguably the most prominent natural icon in the Calgary region, attracting both residents and international visitors for its natural features and recreational opportunities. Although the stretch of the Bow from Calgary to Siksika Nation is deemed by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to be an area of national significance, Western Sky is the only land conservation organization that is focusing efforts in this area.

 

Recognizing that land conservation is essential to the health of the Bow watershed, they are spearheading the Bow and Beyond Campaign, a new effort to promote voluntary land conservation on this stretch of the Bow. Some of the activities of the Bow Initiative include:

 

• one-on-one meetings with landowners to introduce them to the tools of voluntary land conservation;

• hosting a Watershed Forum to foster collaboration and partnership with other watershed organizations, industry and all levels of government to raise awareness about watershed conservation and exchange of information to overcome challenges

• participating in events and awareness building activities of our stakeholders that reach Bow land owners, recreational users or general supporters of this initiative.

• creating support for our core programs that identify and support land conservation opportunities

 

“Maybe you enjoy fly fishing on the Bow or quietly viewing wildlife, or maybe you appreciate the importance of water quality and abundance in our region,” says Tracy Tarves, Western Sky’s Executive Director. “Then you understand the vital role the Bow watershed plays in our community and this is the reason to get involved in the Bow Initiative today.”

 

If you would like to learn more about Western Sky or support their Bow and Beyond Campaign please visit their website: www.westernskylandtrust.ca.

 

Western Sky is the beneficiary of the upcoming Back Cast Fly Fishing Film Festival. For more information about this event, please go to: http://flyfishcalgary.com/board/index.php?showtopic=11351