Oak Lake local Peter Galawan was honoured for his donation of property to the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation on September 20.
In 2017, Galawan donated a quarter section of land in the grassland flats of the Arrow Hills, according to a news release from MHHC. It contains Bailey’s Creek, a tributary of the Assiniboine River.
Grassland habitats are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, MHHC said. They provide important habitat for grassland birds, including species at risk, such as Sprague’s pipit.
Roy Bullion, a habitat conservation specialist with MHHC, said Galawan tossed around the idea of donating the land for many years.
Galawan wanted to “return something for wildlife,” Bullion said.
After a neighbour of Galawan’s got involved in a grazing strategy with MHHC, his land flourished. Bullion said Galawan was “taken” with this, and asked MHHC if it would manage his land in the same way.
MHHC said it will use grazing to manage the land and keep it in its grassland state.
