A quiet stretch of prairie parkland just south of Saskatoon has been developed into a wildlife education and preservation region thanks to a partnership between Ducks Unlimited Canada and PotashCorp.

The Chappell Marsh Conservation Area, a 148-acre zone in the R.M. of Corman Park, is a destination for school children and nature enthusiasts alike as a site for nature conservancy and wildlife education.

Purchased in the early 2000s by the Saskatchewan branch of Ducks Unlimited Canada, the site was recently developed into a top-of-the-line outdoor classroom, explained Melanie Elliott, a wetland educator with the organization and an environmental education consultant at the University of Saskatchewan.

The habitat project features a network of five groomed nature trails with interpretive stations, a shelter for educational programming and benches across the property thanks to funding from PotashCorp and other local businesses. Chappell March officially marked its upgrade in September.

“That kind of habitat preservation really is priceless. I know for PotashCorp there is a (dollar) amount, but saving a wetland like that and using it for education, it’s priceless,” Elliott said.

The educator believes spending time outdoors is key for youth to develop a long-term respect for, and a stewardship attitude toward, nature.  Elliott conducts field trips to the conservation area during the warm months of the school year. Children dip nets into ponds to discover aquatic invertebrates, take nature hikes through the marsh and learn about the coyotes and red-tailed hawks that call the wetland home.

During the summer months, youth participating in the university’s ecology camp for kids also spend time exploring the conservation area.  And while children clearly benefit from the development at the site, they’re not the only visitors to Chappell Marsh.

“Anytime people in the community have come by, they have always expressed amazement that there’s a conservation area open for everyone for foot traffic,” Elliott said.  “Ducks Unlimited makes it quite clear it’s for walking trails — and of course dogs are allowed.”

Protecting the land

Following a $250,000 commitment from PotashCorp, Ducks Unlimited has been spending $50,000 annually, along with matched contributions and community investment, to set aside 7,790 acres acres for conservation, conversion, management or maintenance in order to provide quality habitat for waterfowl, wildlife and people.

The Chappell Marsh Conservation Area is a result of the work the organization has done in Saskatchewan to preserve natural wildlife habitats. Part of a global organization, the Canadian branch of Ducks Unlimited works with landowners, scientists and volunteers to preserve wetland habitats across the country.

Funds from PotashCorp’s commitment to the organization were used to develop the local site.

“Over the years it was really over-grazed and neglected, so its value for wildlife habitat it really was decreasing,” Elliott said of the conservation area. “When the opportunity came for Ducks Unlimited to purchase it, they jumped at it.”

Supporting Ducks Unlimited Canada is a natural fit for PotashCorp. The company believes in connecting with the land that sustains the population and understands the key role nature has in providing the right conditions for crop growth around the world.

At the celebration marking the grand opening of the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area, Garth Moore, president of PCS Potash, spoke about the importance of environmental protection to PotashCorp.

Sustainability, he said, is one of PotashCorp’s key goals.  “Like Ducks Unlimited, we feel that we have a responsibility to the future and a responsibility to think about how our actions affect the people and places around us,” Moore said. “Sustainable growth and responsible stewardship is embedded in everything we do – and it is a commitment that we take seriously.”  Just as sustainability is one of PotashCorp’s key goals, so too is its commitment to making a difference in the communities in which it operates.

Moore said PotashCorp hopes the Chappell Marsh Conservation Area will help young people from the Saskatoon region explore their natural environment and their connection to the land.  “We hope that our contribution will make Chappell Marsh a destination for future generations of teachers, learners and nature enthusiasts of all ages. And, we hope that it inspires young people to think about their role as future leaders in our community and stewards of our natural environment.”

For Elliott, the partnership between the organization and PotashCorp helps youth learn about the natural world that surrounds them.   “Potash Corporation’s contribution makes such a difference, it really does,” she said.  “A place like Chappell Marsh, with no backing it sort of withers and gets neglected. But with the money, Ducks Unlimited has really done a good job of developing it and making it a safe place for kids.”