The Canadian federal environment minister has suggested that private working ranches in Alberta could be counted toward meeting the government's land-conservation targets under a new environmental strategy.This proposal aims to resolve an ongoing disagreement between Ottawa and Alberta over the federal plan to protect at least 1.6 million square kilometers of land by 2030 as part of the global '30 by 30' initiative.

Alberta Environment Minister Grant Hunter criticized the federal approach, arguing that the current targets fail to recognize the existing conservation efforts of ranchers who manage their lands sustainably.

Federal minister Julie Dabrusin highlighted that working landscapes like ranches could qualify under the category of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), which allow non-protected land managed for biodiversity preservation to count toward conservation goals.

However, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith remains skeptical, citing concerns about wildfire risks in federally protected parks and opposing further expansion of parkland.The debate underscores tensions between federal environmental mandates and provincial autonomy in managing natural resources.