Grassland Events
Upcoming:
Global Pastoralist Gathering & Conference in Mongolia
August 10-15, 2026
"In 2026, many pastoralists’ meetings and conferences will be held across regions worldwide. There is now a strong need to synthesize the outcomes and recommendations from these events and produce a unified global position and document. Therefore, Mongolia will host a Global Pastoralist Gathering and Conference to consolidate and validate regional outcomes and elevate them to the global policy level.
Objective of the Gathering and Conference
The objectives of the Global Pastoralist Gathering and Conference to be held in Mongolia from 10–15 August 2026 are to:
- Consolidate and synthesize the outcomes of pastoralists’ gatherings and dialogues held across world regions.
- Develop a joint declaration and recommendations that reflect the priorities of pastoralists, including women and youth
- Identify policy directions and cooperation mechanisms to support the sustainability of rangelands and pastoralism by governments and CSOs
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Present the consolidated document at the UNCCD COP 17 and globally within the framework of the celebration of IYRP 2026."
August 20, 2026 - 12 p.m. CST
"To celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the SK Working Group is holding a quarterly Virtual Book Club!
The third IYRP Book Club book will be Treat Them As Buffalo by Blair Palmer Yoxall.
This "anti-Western" novel is set in 1880s Saskatchewan and explores the trauma of colonization and violence. The book contains trigger warnings for colonial violence, violence against children/families, kidnappings, severe loss of life, and racism.
There may be copies available at your local library, through the Libby app, or the audiobook is on Audible."
Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom
"The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is excited to host its 17th Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, in partnership with the Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) at the Best Western Calgary Plaza Hotel Nov. 9 to 12, 2026.
With the theme Canadian Forage Systems: Designing for Durability, this year’s conference offers a dynamic program uniting Canada’s forage and grassland community to address resilience and long‑term system design. The agenda features two days of educational sessions, cutting‑edge research, practical grazing and forage management insights and cross‑sector conversations linking science, policy and on‑the‑ground experience. Attendees will hear from Prairie innovators, explore tools that boost economic and environmental performance and collaborate on building forage systems that withstand climate, market and land‑use pressures.
The CFGA’s Annual Conference is a prime opportunity to connect with sector stakeholders, expand your knowledge, grow your network and spark new collaborations. It’s a gateway to Canada’s 70 million acres of forage and grassland production, the science behind it and the producers who steward it. Along with the educational sessions, the 2026 program includes farm tours, a trade show, workshops and extensive networking with the more than 150 participants expected to attend, including producers, suppliers, service providers, government and industry leaders."
Past Events:
Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference
"Held every three years since 1986, this is the premier conference for scientists, landowners, consultants, educators, nature enthusiasts, land managers, and others to share information and new approaches to conservation, agriculture and protection of prairie landscapes and native species."
The Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub sent a team of representatives to Saskatoon, SK, on May 6th, to present on the "Broader Social Impacts of Conservation on Grassland Species. " Here we discussed the role of the Hub in Prairie conservation, outlining several of the ongoing initiatives, engagements, collaborations and multisiciplinary surveys happening via the GLKH.
Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub
The Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub (GLKH) held its first in-person gathering open to the community at large on October 28, 2025. We invited the Augustana Campus community and larger Camrose community to learn about the work this knowledge hub is doing, meet some of the team members behind its operation, and connect with others who share an interest in protecting and enhancing our grasslands. More information
The gathering was a resounding success, bringing together students, staff, faculty, community members, landowners, and other collaborators—numbering in the hundreds! We were thrilled to see fruitful discussion, inquiries, and overall great connections, all driven by a shared goal of grassland restoration and a deep respect for the Canadian Prairies.
We look forward to the next one.
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association: Greener Horizons Conference
CFGA’s 16th Annual Conference heading to the Maritimes
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s (CFGA) 2025 Annual Conference is taking
place Nov. 18 to 21 at the historic Crowne Plaza Hotel in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Hosted in partnership with the New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association (NBSCIA), this 16th annual event promises to be a landmark gathering for the forage and grassland community.
With the theme Greener Horizons: Technological Innovations in Forage and Grassland
Management, the conference will spotlight cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. It is the go-to event for farmers, agronomists, researchers and industry leaders. Whether you're focused on precision agriculture, soil health, climate resilience or emerging technologies in forage and grassland management, this is your chance to gain insights, build connections and engage in hands-on learning.
Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub - Annual Project Update Webinar
You are cordially invited to join us virtually on March 12 for the next Grassland Learning & Knowledge Hub (GLKH) Project Update, an opportunity to connect, learn and advance our shared commitment to the long-term stewardship of Canada’s grasslands.
This project update will provide:
- Highlights from current research and engagement activities, including policy analysis, economic assessments and human dimensions work examining the drivers of grassland loss and opportunities for conservation.
- Updates on the Community of Practice, which brings together grassland experts, organizations and rights holders to build relationships and codevelop solutions.
- Progress on Indigenous engagement and knowledge pathways, including work grounded in participatory approaches and two-eyed seeing methodologies.
- Upcoming learning and knowledge transfer opportunities, including events, reports and tools designed to support sector-wide understanding and action.
As with all our initiatives, this session is designed to be collaborative, inclusive and action-oriented, where we look to create space for dialogue across sectors, jurisdictions and knowledge systems. Your insights and lived experience are essential to shaping solutions that honour biodiversity, support producers, and strengthen the resilience of our grassland landscapes.
We look forward to gathering with you and continuing to build the relationships, shared understanding and practical tools needed to protect and sustain Canada’s grasslands for generations to come.
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Vous êtes cordialement invités à vous joindre à nous virtuellement le 12 mars pour la prochaine mise à jour du projet de Centre d’apprentissage et de connaissances sur les prairies (CACP), une occasion de nouer des liens, d’apprendre et de faire progresser notre engagement commun envers la gestion à long terme des prairies canadiennes.
Cette mise à jour du projet présentera :
- Les points saillants des activités de recherche et d’engagement actuelles, y compris l’analyse des politiques, les évaluations économiques et les travaux sur les dimensions humaines examinant les facteurs de perte des prairies et les possibilités de conservation.
- Des informations sur la communauté de pratique, qui rassemble des experts en prairies, des organisations et des détenteurs de droits afin de nouer des relations et d’élaborer conjointement des solutions.
- Les progrès réalisés en matière d’engagement autochtone et de transferts de connaissances, notamment les travaux fondés sur des approches participatives et des méthodologies du « double regard », soit de la double perspective.
- Les prochaines occasions d’apprentissage et de transfert de connaissances, notamment les événements, les rapports et les outils conçus pour favoriser la compréhension et l’action à l’échelle du secteur.
Comme toutes les initiatives alignées sur l’ACPF, cette session est conçue pour être collaborative, inclusive et orientée vers l’action, dans le but de créer un espace de dialogue entre les secteurs, les juridictions et les systèmes de connaissances. Vos idées et votre expérience vécue sont essentielles pour élaborer des solutions qui respectent la biodiversité, soutiennent les producteurs et renforcent la résilience de nos prairies.
Détails de l’événement
Nous sommes impatients de vous rencontrer et de continuer à établir les relations, la compréhension commune et les outils pratiques nécessaires pour protéger et préserver les prairies canadiennes pour les générations à venir.
Pictured above: from left to right, Mia Grey, Heather Peat Hamm and Belle Dodds presenting on behalf of the GLKH at the PCES conference.
Pictured here: the GLKH's principal investigator, John Pattison-Williams, delivering the opening remarks.
Pictured here: John Pattison-Williams presenting at the pre-conference Grasslands stakeholder Summit, where key individuals and organizations interested or involved in current grassland research presented their projects for focus group workshopping.