Provincial authorities in Alberta have stripped habitat safeguards for the endangered greater sage-grouse. This regulatory shift impacts roughly 2,800 square kilometres of land in the province's southeastern region .
A 98% population collapse since 1968
The greater sage-grouse is facing a catastrophic decline, with the Alberta population plummeting by approximately 98 per cent since 1968. As reported by the source, a 2023 provincial census estimated that only 54 birds remain in the province. Mark Boyce, a biological sciences professor at the University of Alberta, described the bird as the most endangered vertebrate in Canada and called the removal of protections a "disgrace."
This sudden policy reversal stands in stark contrast to the Alberta government's recent conservation messaging. In January 2025, the province had promoted a "new dawn" for the species, highlighting the decommissioning of more than 400 oil and gas wells and the protection of 5,000 acres of habitat through land easements.
The helium lobby and the Sapphire project
The shift in regulatory policy appears closely tied to the interests of the emerging helium industry.. The Helium Developers Association of Canada has been lobbying the Alberta government to ease restrictions within the sage-grouse recovery area (SGRA), arguing that these rules constrain economic development. Richard Dunn, the association's executive director, noted that helium extraction typically has a smaller environmental footprint than traditional oil and gas operations.
One specific company positioned to benefit from these changes is Calgary-based Thor Resources, which is currently developing the Sapphire helium project. This project is located within a former greater sage-grouse recovery zone in southeastern Alberta. While the Alberta Energy Regulator has approved certain aspects of the development, Thor Resources is still seeking final approvals for its helium processing plant.
Losing 74% of protected recovery zones
The removal of these protections effectively eliminates 74 per cent of the 3,800 square kilometres previously covered by provincial and federal habitat protections.. According to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), the changes specifically target areas in southeastern Alberta that were previously designated as core areas and recovery zones essential for the bird's survival.
Where was the public consultation?
Significant questions remain regarding the transparency of this regulatory shift. both the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and CPAWS claim the government removed these protections without any public announcement or consultation. Katie Morrison, the executive director of CPAWS Southern Alberta, has questioned how the province could abandon its conservation commitments so abruptly, suggesting the move could be the "last nail in the coffin" for this iconic grassland species.
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