CFB Suffield
National Wildlife Area
Department of National Defence
 Aim
The Department of National Defence (DND) and Environment Canada
(EC) have established the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield National
Wildlife Area. The designation of this area, representing 458km2
of relatively undisturbed grassland, as a National Wildlife Area
under the Canada Wildlife Act contributes to the environmental
objectives of both departments and reflects the federal government’s
commitment to environmental stewardship. The designation ensures
that these lands are maintained as federally protected and managed
native wildlife habitat.
To commemorate the event, a designation ceremony was held on June
19th, 2003 at CFB Suffield in Alberta.
Introduction
The CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area consists of rare prairie
grasslands of national significance that blanket landscapes such
as sand hills, ancient glacial coulees, and the riverbank and breaks
along the South Saskatchewan River valley. Although zoned for military
training, DND has recognized the environmental sensitivity of this
area and has managed it as such over the past several decades with
the cooperation and advice of EC.
This area is one of the largest expanses of prairie grassland
in Western Canada wherein its ecological integrity has remained
virtually unaltered by human disturbance. Whereas urbanization,
industrial development, and rangeland conversion to croplands have
fragmented much of the prairie sub-regions, CFB Suffield continues
to host a diversity of native plant life and an abundance of animal
species.
 Three factors make this area unique: its location near the northern
limit of the mid-continental grasslands; the eolian grasslands
contained therein; and its relatively unaltered vegetation. These
factors have served to underline the significance of this area
as a wildlife habitat worthy of full conservation efforts.
Creation of the CFB National Wildlife Area is a concrete example
of the Army’s commitment to environmental stewardship and
supports the notion that military activities can be sustainable
and contribute to environmental protection and conservation.
Facts
Natural grasslands and rivers are among the most endangered ecosystems
in Prairie Canada with as little as 6% of native prairie remaining
free from human interference. Thus, the CFB Suffield National Wildlife
Area will play a significant role as a northern refugium for endemic
Prairie wildlife.
History
 In 1922 a National Park was temporarily established in the area
to provide wintering habitat for diminishing prairie antelope population.
Subsequent to the recovery of the species, in 1938, the area was
withdrawn as a park.
In 1941, DND gained administrative control over the Suffield area
for research purposes. When CFB Suffield was established in 1971
to support military training, the areas comprising the National
Wildlife Area were classified as environmentally protected and
their use was restricted.
In 1992, DND and EC signed an MOU to work towards the establishment
of the National Wildlife Area. Although unofficially treated as
a National Wildlife Area since that time, it was officially designated
as such in 2003.
The creation of the CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area signals
that the federal government values the ecological significance
of the area and is committed to its protection.
 Ecological Significance
The CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area hosts over 1,100 catalogued
species including 244 vertebrate, 462 plant, and 436 invertebrate
species. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada (COSEWIC) has listed 14 of these species as “species
at risk.” Examples of species at risk include the Swift Fox
and the Sprague’s Pipit (bird). Seventy-eight species of
animals and plants that are listed by the Status of Alberta Wildlife
2000 as “at risk” or “sensitive” because
of their declining abundance are found here.
An ecological inventory project jointly undertaken by DND and
EC determined species richness, regional species diversity, habitat
quality, and overall ecological integrity of the affected lands.
Considering the ongoing threat to native ecosystems and associated
unique land forms, designating this nationally significant area
as a National Wildlife Area will ensure critical habitat protection
for species at risk and reverse habitat loss and fragmentation
trends by increasing protected habitat outside national parks.
Benefits
This initiative will contribute to meeting Canada’s commitments
under the Biodiversity Convention, the Accord for the Protection
of Species at Risk and other conservation objectives. Furthermore,
it will enhance the Prairie National Wildlife Area network that
includes Last Mountain Lake and St. Denis in Saskatchewan.
 The CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area creates a block of prairie
habitat sufficient to support the full spectrum of prairie flora
and fauna endemic to the region. It provides secure habitat in
which species can reproduce and repopulate surrounding prairie
environs currently impacted by human development and population
growth. A better understanding of the response of the Prairie ecosystem
to long-term management and protection of the native habitat is
anticipated as a result of the creation of the CFB Suffield National
Wildlife Area. This knowledge will be accessible to the public
to support regional landscape management.
The establishment of the National Wildlife Area will impact any
new proposed land use developments within the area, such as water
management projects, resource extraction and agricultural developments.
Since new activities could potentially harm wildlife habitat, such
proposed activities will be subject to approval and mandatory environmental
screening.
 Management
The CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area will remain under the
administrative authority and ownership of DND subject to a delegation
of authority from the Minister of Environment to the Minister of
National Defence. EC will support DND’s administration of
the area with advice, and wildlife research and enforcement expertise
on a case-by-case basis. Interdepartmental cooperation and consultation
on the operation of the protected area will continue. No major
changes in land use are anticipated.
Conclusion
Establishing the CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area sets a precedent
in interdepartmental land management and conservation of endangered
ecosystems. It will formalize wildlife and habitat protection and
lead to positive results in the survivability of species. It also
demonstrates that the Army can play an important environmental
leadership role, contribute to sustainable development while fulfilling
its mission and integrate environmental considerations in the Army
of Today as well as the Army of Tomorrow.
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