By Alice McFarlane

SaskLander app offers alternatives to access private land

Mar 10, 2022 | 4:28 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities sees the SaskLander app as a useful tool for landowners and recreational users to get permission to enter private lands.

SARM is joining forces with the Saskatchewan tech startup to help rural landowners manage property and reduce unsolicited visitors and trespassers.

SARM President Ray Orb said farmers and ranchers don’t have to physically put up “no trespassing” signs. All the information and permissions are available on the app.

“The SaskLander platform concept is simple. Post the land you own and then deny or give permission to those who request to enter onto it,” Orb said. “The general public can request the required permission from landowners for hunting or recreation.”

Orb said the app also works for rural municipalities. It gives the public access to a rural map and identifies the parcels of land and the listed no trespassing locations.

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“It truly is a must-have resource for our 296 RMs,” he said.

Amendments to the Trespass Act require the public, such as hunters and recreational users, to gain permission to enter private lands, whether the land is posted or not.

It is currently illegal for a member of the general public to access private land that has been posted with “no trespass” notifications for recreational purposes. The legislation amendments will transfer the onus of responsibility from the landowner to those wishing to access the land by requiring them to ask for permission before entering.

SaskLander is an opt-in service that lets landowners add land and set their permissions by activity, in effect posting land digitally.

Orb said one of the biggest issues has been the general public, when seeking to access private land, wouldn’t always see a no trespassing sign.

“They might not know who the landowner is or how to contact them. SaskLander platform has bridged that gap, it’s as quick as opening the website and looking at the parcel of land you plan to be on and sending a message to the landowner,” Orb said.

The SaskLander platform has 268 landowners registered online, accounting for 730 parcels. Usage of the platform spiked during the 2021 hunting season.

In December, SaskLander noted increased signups mostly attributed to snowmobile season and the Trespass Act starting enforcement Jan. 1.

Trespassing has been a concern of rural residents for some time. Orb said while there has been concerns about personal safety this can also affect the livelihood of the landowner.

There have been instances where livestock has been lost to hunting accidents or because gates have been left open.

There is also the potential for the spread of noxious weeds, invasive species, and soil-borne diseases, like clubroot.

The SaskLander app membership is available for free until Mar. 31.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW