Win for Endangered Species in the Rosebud Case

March 18, 2026

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• Grasslands
• Species at Risk
• Wildlife

After 13 years of opposition, the local landowners, residents and community, naturalists and conservationists, and anyone who enjoys the peaceful and biodiverse Rosebud valley finally saw a favourable decision.

Rosebud Valley is a quiet and largely intact river valley in southern Alberta, providing habitat for a variety of species, including Threatened bank swallows. Building a racetrack through this sensitive area could be devastating for many of the species it shelters.

The local community does not want to see a racetrack built. Save the Rosebud, led by the local landowners and residents, formed with a focus on protecting the Rosebud Valley from these developments.

In 2020, Rosebud locals appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, which was had issued approvals for the destruction and modification of five wetlands under the Water Act, in an area adjacent to bank swallow nesting sites.

The Alberta Environmental Appeals Board decided to allow development to continue, despite considerable evidence that these changes would harm the environment and bank swallow populations. The board claimed it did not have the jurisdiction to make decisions on species at risk.

In May 2024, they applied for judicial review, citing bias in Alberta Environmental Appeals Board decisions and stating that the provincial board was ignoring critical habitat designation.

The Court of King’s Bench of Alberta agreed. Their ruling found “the Board unreasonably disregarded relevant evidence” related to bank swallow critical habitat and “the Board did not decide this appeal fairly.” They concluded, “The application for judicial review is granted, the Decision is quashed, and the matter is remitted back to the Board for a rehearing.”

This is a decision that acknowledges the responsibility to consider and mitigate environmental harm. However, this win does not guarantee the protection of the river valley, and the community, conservationists and many others will continue to fight for Rosebud Valley as long as needed.

For more details, see the article from Save the Rosebud.