This special newsletter edition outlines SAPAA’s proposed 2025 plan emphasizing Citizen Stewardship. It discusses the need for transitioning from the Status Quo to SAPAA 2.0, fostering volunteer engagement, and reinforcing relationships with government and peer organizations. Members are encouraged to provide feedback on the plan by November 21. A PDF version can be downloaded.

1. Editorial
2. Citizen Stewardship Definition
3. Citizen Stewardship and SAPAA 2.0
4. Principles of 2.0
5. Ten Priorities
6. Membership
7. Editorial Team, Links and Resources at a Glance:
8. A Few Bonus Pictures!

Editorial

by Frank Potter

One Story Newsletter. This is a special edition and contains one story: a description of SAPAA 2.0 It is timely as the memorial for one of the founders of SAPAA, Alison Dinwoodie, is occurring this month. Although I never met Alison, I would like to think she would approve of the plan. It holds the government accountable as the landowner but recognizes that citizens need to be responsible for protected areas.

AGMs Past and Future. The plan starts with the above graphic, introduced at the 2023 Annual General Meeting. Since then, the board has investigated a merger with Nature Alberta but without success. Hubert T. will provide more details at our the 2024 Annual General Meeting.

Ceasing or Status Quo. By default, SAPAA has selected the Status Quo option. However, we cannot sustain SAPAA through this option and staying here will eventually lead to SAPAA ceasing operations.

Defining SAPAA 2.0. This newsletter fleshes out the final option and is broken into three parts starting with two definitions: Citizen Stewardship, an SAPAA 2.0.

SAPAA 2.0 – Priorities and Plans. The second and third parts of the plan relate to SAPAA’s principles and priorities. First and foremost is supporting the legacy Government Stewards and the WAERNAHR lands.

Time, Talent, Treasure, and Plans. In one form or another, SAPAA has been working on the ten priorities. How much more active it can be is a function of the enthusiasm of its members (new and future) and resources.

What If the Government Program Returns? SAPAA will support any new protected areas volunteer stewardship initiative. However, until this program is in place, SAPAA will endeavour to continue the spirit and intentions of the legacy program.

What Do You Think? Because silence is golden, the absence of comments from SAPAA Members we will interpret as support for the plan. Examples of comments:

Comments by November 21. This plan, with any suggested modifications, will be forwarded to provincial government and our peer organizations for their feedback prior to our AGM. While you are welcome to provide comments at the AGM, the most effective time is prior to November 21, 2024. You can comment on the page directly, email Hubert at President@sapaastewards.com or discuss in person.

Citizen Stewardship Definition

The SAPAA 2.0 is based on Citizen Stewardship, a companion concept to Citizen Science and is defined as follows:

Citizen Stewardship: Individuals, acting on their own or through organizations, ensure the designated lands are protected from over-consumption so the land is available for future enjoyment and ongoing nature conservation.

A Citizen Steward communicates the state of a land parcel so that appropriate management or other actions can be taken if necessary to protect the ecological integrity of the land. A Citizen Steward may add value to the land by undertaking monitoring, research, interpretation or other non-consumptive activities on the land.

Typically, a Citizen Steward has no vested legal powers but may be granted special permissions from the landowner to support their activities (e.g., posting signs, fencing, education).

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Citizen Stewardship and SAPAA 2.0

SAPAA’s 2.0 Defined. Historically, SAPAA supported government-appointed Stewards as a ‘union’ of sorts. SAPAA 2.0 is about taking over some of the functions from the paused government program. SAPAA can’t replace a government-funded program, but:

SAPAA 2.0 will develop programs and resources to support the remaining government Stewards, recruit new ones, and improve the body of stewardship knowledge/ practice.

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Principles of 2.0

In designing, building and running SAPAA 2.0, we will use the following principles:

1. Effort Requires Resources. Any effort needs Time, Talent, and Treasure. SAPAA 2.0 will be less and more than the original government program.
2. Broker First, Builder Last. Wherever possible, SAPAA will re-use existing resources. Partnerships are critical and SAPAA will adopt but not re-create resources already available. Only if necessary will SAPAA build a process or system.
3. WAERNAHR First but Not All. The focus is on the WAERNAHR lands (and future legislative equivalents).
4. Fun and Learning is Common. SAPAA is built on enjoying the land and sharing one’s passion for protected areas. As a result, we will adopt and use best practices in volunteer management … and we will have a lot fun, laughs, and learn a bunch.

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Ten Priorities

Using the above principles, the SAPAA 2024-2025 priorities are as follows: 

1. Operations. Sustaining our current operations to support our volunteers and give them a best in class experience while delivering program excellence.
2. Support Legacy Stewards. Interactions with the government through communications, and programming. Current examples: website, site inspection form, emails, and newsletters.
3. GoA Relations. Maintain a productive working relationship with Ministries and the Minister(s) of the day. 
4. Cultivate Peer Relationships. In particular with Nature Alberta, the Land Stewardship Centre, the Alberta Wilderness Association, Alberta Conservation Association, and CPAWS (South and North Alberta).
5. Site Inspections. Continue to develop and refine the site inspection process. Align questions with GoA priorities, continue Ministerial reporting, and increase inspection submissions.
6. Communicate WAERNAHR. Communicate to the responsible Minister(s), peer organizations, and the public the existence and state of these sites.
7. Google Map. Create a new Google map owned by SAPAA.
8. Mini Conference. Run a mini conference for SAPAA members and friends. 
9. Stewardship Best Practices. Identify and communicate best practices to members and peer organizations. Topics include administration, safety, science, and technology. Best practices come from Alberta, across Canada, and globally.
10. Membership Benefits. Increase the value of a paid SAPAA membership through programming, access to resources, discounts, etc.

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Membership

Annual membership renewal remains at $15 per individual, family or group steward and includes a $5 insurance fee per member that the society pays to Nature Alberta.

E-transfers are preferred (treasurer@sapaastewards.com) but if payment is made by cheque, it should be made payable to Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas Association (in full, the bank is persnickety) to c/o Patsy Cotterill, Membership Secretary, 7401 156 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5R 1X4.

The membership year runs from October 1 to September 30. If you have changes to make to your information or wish to provide additional information, please provide updates by completing and emailing /mailing the Membership Form available on the Home Page.

Thank you.

Editorial Team, Links and Resources at a Glance:

Editorial team: Patsy Cotterill, Frank Potter, Hubert Taube.   

• Download a PDF copy of this newsletter.
• List of Alberta’s Protected Areas.
• Connect & Read.
• Online Steward Reporting form.
• New and Renewal of SAPAA Membership.
• SAPAA’s FaceBook Group.
• Land Reference Manual | Alberta Parks.

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A Few Bonus Pictures!

The following are from recent site inspections.

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