An open letter to the Province of Manitoba:
March 18, 2024
The Honourable Lisa Naylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure,
The Honourable Tracy Schmidt, Minister of Environment and Climate Change,
The Honourable Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba
450 Broadway
Legislative Building
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
Dear Ministers and Premier:
In 2015, the Province of Manitoba declared the native Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem endangered*. At that time, less than 0.5% remained intact of what was here before large scale agriculture and human habitation displaced it. While a few remnants (such as the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and the Living Prairie Museum) have been protected, a common practice of respective governments in the province continues to displace native plants which are not in protected areas.
Twenty years ago there were a lot of native plants growing alongside the province's highways. Now there are only a few such plants here and there. For example, our iconic provincial grass, big bluestem, was not uncommon (even abundant in patches) beside PTH 75 from St. Norbert to the US border. The same can be said for other highways and roads in south eastern Manitoba where today our provincial grass and most other native plants are almost gone.
Big bluestem is one of more than 70 warm season native flora species. Warm season plants flower in late July or early August. Which means their seed isn't viable until late September or early October. Meanwhile, fall mowing—aimed at reducing snow drifts—happens in early to mid-September. This timing ensures there will be less seed from big bluestem and other warm season plants in the seed bank than that of other plants (such as introduced and invasive smooth brome) which flower in June and have set seed before being mowed.
It was encouraging to see big bluestem and other native plants growing beside highways where one could see what makes this region environmentally distinct. As well, native plants provide nectar for native insects which are currently in decline. As are native birds which feed on the insects.
It would cost nothing to change the timing of mowing to mid or late October. It's also possible to simply flatten vegetation. Ride on rollers may cost less to operate than huge tractors and mowing decks. In addition, the ecosystem has an understorey. Close to 30 tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs grow less than a foot high. The need for mowing (or flattening) could be eliminated were they growing beside shoulders.
I therefore request that the timing and practice of mowing be assessed with people who are familiar with the native plants which once prospered here. And then be adjusted so as to favour those plants.
Sincerely,
Robert G Mears
RM of Morris, MB, R0G 1K0
* Grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems on the planet.
Tallgrass Prairie beside PTH 75, north of Letellier, July 24, 2011.
A print copy of this letter was sent on March 18, 2024.
If you are so inclined, please email a link to this page to the respective Ministers or Premier:
Honourable Lisa Naylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Honourable Tracy Schmidt, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Honourable Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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