In light of last week's very happy news that the Alberta government is listing the grizzly bear as a threatened species, we want to take a moment to congratulate Minister Knight and the Province on its decision. But even closer to home, we want to sincerely thank all of you in the Ecotrust community who have ensured funding has been available for the past 18 years to the individuals and groups who have worked so patiently to guarantee that real grizzly bears, and not just their ghosts, will be a part of Alberta's future. The announcement of special protection marks the end of a decades-long effort on the part of nonprofit conservation groups, scientists, individuals from industry and government and many other people.

Grizzly bears - our province's largest and most powerful mammal - are a big part of Alberta's natural legacy, a big part of our history and an enduring symbol of our province's wild heart. Many years ago, someone asked the great conservationist Aldo Leopold about the need for grizzly bears in the lower 48 American States when there were so many in Alaska. "Relegating grizzlies to Alaska," Aldo replied, "is about like relegating happiness to heaven; one may never get there."

We share his sentiments, and believe relegating grizzlies to Alaska or even across the border to British Columbia would constitute a lamentable loss. The determination on the part of so many of us to ensure that "the great bear" continues to be part of our lives is a striking testament to our Albertan spirit, generosity and underlying values.

Since 1992, Alberta Ecotrust has brought corporate and nonprofit representatives together twice a year to make tough decisions about the allocation of funding to projects seeking to protect Alberta's water, air and wildlife and habitat. Across those years, the members of our Grant Review Committees have consistently supported projects dedicated to protecting grizzlies and their habitat. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests we have funded about 20 projects worth about $300,000, with the projects encompassing a wide diversity of conservation approaches:

• Awareness and education campaigns for schools, communities, and Albertans generally;
• Scientific research and publications;
• On-ground work with ranchers and other rural landowners;
• Work with decision-makers on policy-making, implementation and monitoring; and
• Work with the G8 Legacy program regarding the construction of wildlife crossing structures and their use.

There is still much to do. We have certainly not seen the last proposal for grizzly bear protection. But the Province's decision - described by Anne-Marie Syslak of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society as "a monumental gesture" - is a major milestone. It is a great result and it gives us hope for equally important progress on other important issues in the future. Thank you!