Wildlife groups and environmentalists in Saskatchewan are upset with a government plan to remove more than 1.2 million hectares of land from the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act.

The protected land under discussion is about twice the area of Prince Edward Island, spread out in parcels throughout the province, and is currently home to various species of birds and mammals.

The government says the change is being made to allow ranchers to buy land that they have leased for generations. Groups like the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation acknowledge the vast majority of ranchers are good stewards of the land, but they are concerned that once the government gives up ownership, it can be sold to anyone, with no guarantees wildlife habitat will be protected.

"Those properties are owned by the people of Saskatchewan, and I just don't think most people would want to see them sold off," said Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.

"It's a very sad day when the dollar plays a bigger role than our future generations."

The government says it will break up the land currently covered by the act into three chunks: land that cannot be sold, land that can be sold but must still be protected and land that can be sold with no strings attached.

If changes to the act go through, about 10 per cent of the land can be sold with no conditions attached, the government says. More could be sold with "conservation easements".

In the legislature, the Opposition NDP has attempted to portray the move as a short-sighted cash grab.

NDP environment critic Sandra Morin said she has been getting letters from wildlife groups, First Nations leaders and concerned citizens about the proposed changes, which have received second reading in the legislature.

"Why are the years of hard work by people concerned about wildlife being put in jeopardy by this government's financial mismanagement?" Morin said.

However, Environment Minister Nancy Heppner said money is not behind the government's move.

"This isn't about monetary things," she said. "This is about people being able to purchase the land that they're currently using or being able to purchase land where it no longer has to be under wildlife habitat protection."

Heppner said she intends to get the act changed before the end of May.