Twenty years ago, Peter and Sharon Butala donated over 13 thousand acres of rich prairie grasslands in the Milk River Watershed to the Nature Conservancy of Canada .

Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation area opened to vistors yesterday. The park is located near Frontier, Eastend and Shaunavon, and located about two hours by vehicle south of Swift Current.

Visitors can experience the vast natural prairie and dark night skies, view genetically-pure plains bison, learn of Saskatchewan`s early settlers here, and view many wildlife species that live on and love this land.

Lindsay Cherpin, the OMB interpreter discusses the mission of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

"To conserve land in its natural state for the benefit of people and wildlife. Nature Conservancy works in collaboration with stakeholders.. landowners and conservation groups and as long as we can work together to meet the common goal of preserving our nature for everyone to enjoy."

Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped protect more than 2.8 million acres nationally, with over 150,000 acres of ecologically significant lands conserved through land donations, purchases and agreements in Saskatchewan.