About
Current Activities
The Hanen Society is focussed on the conservation of the Society's ranch in the Pekisko valley, employing best practices in managing native grassland and riparian areas.
The Hanen Society supports a number of worthy conservation projects in the eastern slopes region of the Rockies in SW Alberta and in the Columbia Valley Trench region of SE British Columbia including grassland, forest and riparian area enhancement; education of industry, the public and land stewards in such efforts; as well as efforts to improve land management practices.
The Society is most interested in projects that are underway or ready to proceed with clear and measurable objectives.
History
The Hanen Society was founded by Zahava Hanen in 1993. Zahava was keenly interested in the conservation and restoration of the natural grasslands situated on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies and their heritage of sustaining the buffalo herds and the first nations who coexisted with the buffalo and grass. Zahava spent much of her life working to ensure that industrial impacts on these lands were moderated and development practices improved to ensure the grasslands and the flora and fauna that depended on them would survive and flourish.
Zahava Hanen, Founder
Link to Zahava Hanen Fonds at Glenbow (U of C)
Grants
| 2025 | Total from 2010 | |
| Freshwater Conservation | 70,000 | 303,500 |
| Nature Trust BC | 150,000 | |
| Golden Rod and Gun | 8,000 | 20,000 |
| Oldman Watershed | 45,000 | 365,000 |
| Alberta Tomorrow | 20,000 | 360,000 |
| Cows and Fish | 45,000 | 265,000 |
| Grassland Restoration Forum | 45,000 | 281,470 |
| Other | 434,500 | |
| Total | 233,000 | 2,179,470 |
Waiparous area stream and fenland restoration
Freshwater Conservation work at Waiparous accomplished the reconnection of the Whispering Pines Creek through the installation of open bottom arches in relacement of hanging culverts at road crossings to allow upstream fish migration and natural downstream flow. Work also included fen restoration to remediate channeling caused by off road vehicles.
Trout and King Bolt Creek area stream and fenland restoration
Freshwater Conservation work at Trout Creek and King Bolt Creek is focussed on the rehabilitation of the creek through fence relocation and offstream watering developments for livestock, trails and bridge work, instream restoration including the building of beaver dam analogues, and recovery stocking of native Westslope Cutthroat Trout.
Ungulate habitat enhancement
Nature Trust BC and Golden Rod and Gun Club projects focus on ungulate habitat enhancement at Bull River and the Kickinghorse Canyon through thinning of overgrown forests and encouragement of natural grassland and brush development.
Work with the Oldman Watershed Council is focussed on building bridges and offstream watering troughs as well as rehabilitating riparian areas.
Alberta Tomorrow projects include landuse simulation software development and 360 virtual tours of Alberta's natural regions with a focus on classroom education.
Cows and Fish projects (including work with Southern Alberta Land Trust Society) involve landowner engagement with innovative grass and riparian health practices as well as completion of riparian health assessments and inventories.
Grassland Restoration Forum develops targeted grazing monitoring methods, recovery strategies for native grassland adversely impacted by industrial development, and watershed resiliency and restoration outreach workshops.