Canada’s Native Grasslands — Our most endangered ecosystem

The Meewasin Valley in Saskatoon contains important native grasslands situated within a rapidly growing urban and peri-urban landscape. As the city expands, these ecosystems face increasing pressures, including over-use, invasive species, shrub encroachment and shifting public expectations. This presentation shares practical, field-based experiences from managing grasslands in the Meewasin Valley, highlighting both challenges and effective management responses. The session will explore how disturbance-based tools, particularly prescribed fire and targeted grazing, can be applied in urban settings to maintain ecological function, build resilience and address common drivers of grassland decline.  Urban grasslands also play a vital social role, serving as accessible places where people can experience, understand and engage in grassland conservation. The webinar will examine how management, communication and public interaction intersect in highly visible landscapes, offering insights into how growing cities can both steward and celebrate native grassland ecosystems.

The birds that rely on the agricultural landscape of the Canadian Prairies, especially grassland birds, are in steep decline. Birds Canada's work on the Canadian Prairies is focused on finding solutions to the systemic issues that are the root cause for bird population declines. This presentation will focus around the Bird-friendliness Index, and the role it can play in enabling an agricultural system that conserves birds while sustaining the livelihoods of the people on the land. 

Grasslands are working landscapes that support wildlife, store carbon, and sustain rural communities – and ranchers play a key role in stewarding them. This webinar will explore how grassland-based livestock operations can contribute to ecosystem resilience, drawing on real-world experience from producers managing for long-term land health. Participants will gain a clearer picture of how responsible grazing can generate environmental and societal benefits, while also learning about some of the complexities involved in managing these vital ecosystems.

Native pollinators and plants of the mixed-grass prairie in Manitoba are vital to a healthy ecosystem. Here in Brandon, MB, Bee City Brandon educates the community and shares simple things people can do to support our pollinators.

Grasslands are globally threatened. For the past 6 weeks, we have been highlighting the natural and cultural significance of natural grasslands in Canada. We will revisit some of the knowledge that has been shared during our campaign, show how conservation is working, present new information on how Canadians value conservation and provide hope for this threatened ecosystem in Canada and the world.