How we achieve our goals: The Society works to identify, protect, restore and maintain natural spaces and biodiversity in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River through:

1.       Direct participation

The NSRVCS is a membership based non-profit organization that uses the power and passion of private citizens who volunteer their time to ensure the long term conservation of Edmonton’s most amazing remaining wild spaces.  In its short history, membership in the Society has reached 312 and includes members from across the Capital Region and other parts of Alberta. Please consider joining or volunteering your time!

 

2.       Collaboration with other organizations

Working to conserve Edmonton’s remaining natural areas could not be done without the dedication and support from all sectors within Edmonton.  Private Citizens, businesses, conservation groups, and various levels of government are all instrumental in working together to achieve such a legacy conservation vision. The NSRVCS actively works to inform and partner with all groups in order to achieve our collective goals. Please visit our allies page here!

 

3.       Community outreach and public education

The NSRVCS actively facilitates and coordinates the production of citizen researched reports that are created for the purpose of educating citizens, government officials, private landowners, and local businesses regarding the amazing conservation opportunity’s that still exist for the benefit of the citizens of Edmonton and the Capital Region.

Successes:

2007

Late 2007: Residents of the Woodbend community learned a large gravel project was proposed for the river valley in the environmentally significant Woodbend area.  As concern grew, the “Community Gravel Pit Opposition Committee” was formed.  This citizens’ group initiated a petition advocating a thorough environmental assessment. 

2008

Organizers incorporated the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society (NSRVCS) in 2008 to intervene on behalf of Edmontonians regarding land-use policy issues concerning the river valley and tributary ravines.

October 6, 2008: The North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society’s conservation proposal, called Nature at Its Best: a Proposal to Conserve the Woodbend Natural Area in Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley was released to the public at a news conference held.  The Society’s proposal outlined its vision consistent with that of the City of Edmonton and the River Valley Alliance - to conserve the Woodbend Natural Area, in perpetuity, for its intrinsic value and for the purposes of: conservation of key eco-systems vital to a sustainable future; public enjoyment; education and, scientific research.

November 2008: the Society conducted a physical review of the area with the express purpose of educating fellow citizens and representatives about the amazingly unique features of the area.  This resulted in the release of a document titled The Woodbend Natural Area: Urban Biodiversity at its Best. 

December 1, 2008: The petition originated by “Community Gravel Pit Opposition Committee” in Late 2007 was signed by 7,771 Albertans and presented in the Legislature.

2009

The NSRVCS was instrumental in successfully promoting an amendment to the City of Edmonton Municipal Development Plan to stop mining in the river valley.

2010

As the NSRVCS grew and researched Edmonton’s most south-western portion of the North Saskatchewan River Valley it was realized that the Woodbend Natural Area (proposed in 2008) was at the heart of a very valuable and unique natural area. 

December 2010: After further research the Society released its report titled Big Island/Woodbend Natural Area: Urban Biodiversity at Its Best <link to document in resource room> and associated summary brochure titled Protecting Edmonton’s South-West Ribbon of Green <link to document in resource room>. These documents outline a vision for an expansion of the original Woodbend Natural Area proposal - extending it to include Big Island and areas on the east side of the river.

2011

The NSRVCS is now focused on promoting a large conservation natural area in southwest Edmonton called the “Woodbend/Big Island Natural Area”. As well, the NSRVC is becoming active on river valley conservation issues in other parts of the river valley<link to threats to river valley page>.