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Voluntary Stewardship and the Canadian Species at Risk Act: Exploring Rancher Willingness to Support Species at Risk in the Canadian Prairies

North American temperate grasslands and the wildlife species they support are increasingly imperilled, largely due to habitat loss and degradation. Most remaining prairie is privately managed and supports livestock production. In Canada, voluntary stewardship is the preferred approach for protecting species at risk on private lands under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). However, attitudes of private land managers toward species at risk and their willingness to engage in stewardship are poorly understood. With data from interviews with 42 livestock producers in Saskatchewan, Canada, we describe producer characteristics, attitudes, and awareness of species at risk and evaluate how these factors influence willingness to protect species at risk. Younger producers with increased formal education, awareness, and positive attitudes were more willing to support conservation of species at risk. Voluntary stewardship under the SARA may be enhanced by rewarding producers for sound habitat management and improving trust between producers and government agencies.