Related Research & Projects

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:
    • International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026) 
      • "The United Nations General Assembly at its 76th session declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. The #IYRP2026 provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of rangelands and pastoralists, advocating for increased responsible investment and adapted policies for the pastoral sector. It calls for policies that secure pastoralists’ access to land and natural resources, support mobility, and promote customary and inclusive governance, while encouraging adequate investments in rangeland management, ecosystem restoration, animal health services, and equitable value chains.

        The Year also aims to foster inclusive policy dialogue and collaborative engagement to improve pastoralist livelihoods and sustainable rangeland management. Rangelands and pastoralists have great potential to contribute and deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

        • "Covering about half the world's land, rangelands are home to unique biodiversity and pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Pastoralists raise animals, contribute to food security, and hold diverse cultural heritage and local and indigenous knowledge, preserving ecosystems across the world."  

  • University of Saskatchewan, Department of Geography and Planning:
    • "Measuring Woody Plant Encroachment with Satellite Imagery."
      • "A team of USask researchers are using satellite image technology to map the spread of woody plants and their impact on Canadian grasslands. Led by Dr. Xulin Guo (PhD), department head of Geography and Planning in the College of Arts and Science, the USask research team aims to develop new ways to monitor woody plant encroachment and protect the grasslands of Saskatchewan and Canada, which are critical reservoirs of biodiversity and wildlife habitat. They are also major natural resources for the livestock industry. The project will receive $312,000 in funding over three years."
  • Canadian Forage and Grassland Association:
    • "Tomorrow's Prairies" project.
      • "The CFGA is excited to be working with Nature United on a three-year research project aimed at understanding trends in the condition and extent of Canadian grasslands. The data will inform strategies to help mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. 
         
        Funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, the Tomorrow’s Prairies project will study historical baselines and projections of Canadian grasslands, foster collaboration among scientists and practitioners, develop key indicators and model future scenarios of change."
  • University of Saskatchewan:
    • "Grassland Genomics for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation."
      • "There is huge potential for greenhouse gas absorption and soil carbon sequestration across the Canadian Prairies, with more than 16 million hectares of native grasslands and managed forage. The Grassland Genomics for Greenhouse Gas (GG4GHG) mitigation project will use genomics to understand how genetic diversity in these forage ecosystems impacts their ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, store it in the soil and resist climate change. GG4GHG will investigate native forage plants, native pollinators and soil microbes across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. 
      • By understanding the role genetic diversity plays in ecosystem services, such as carbon dioxide absorption and the deposition of carbon in the soil, the GG4GHG team hopes to demonstrate the potential native species could have in mitigating the effects of climate change. The team will work with stakeholders, such as forage seed producers, cattle farmers, conservation groups, and rural and Indigenous communities to identify important plant species, understand the ecosystem services they provide, develop predictive analytics and develop native plant seed mixes with the greatest potential for mitigating climate change." 
  • Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation:
    • "Reverse Auction for Grassland Restoration."

      • "The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is hosting a Reverse Auction to restore once cultivated land back to native grassland. The primary land of interest is in the short and mixed grass regions of Saskatchewan, and priority would be given to land close to existing grasslands or critical habitat for species at risk. One of the top focuses for this project is monitoring native grassland’s ability to store and sequester soil organic carbon, so land with an increased potential to do so will be given special consideration.

      • Producers agree to convert cultivated lands to perennial cover using native plant species. Lands of interest will be close to existing native grasslands and or critical habitat for species at risk. Native seed will be sourced and purchased by the SSGF. The producer will be responsible for weed control, land preparation, seeding and establishment.  Financial incentive will be based on all activities above plus an estimate of lost opportunities through conversion back to perennial cover.

      • Seeded areas will be rested for up to two years to allow for establishment, and then we will work with SODCAP to implement an appropriate grazing strategy. These are then maintained in perennial cover for 30 years, where cooperating producers will have no land use restrictions following the term of the agreement."

  •  Alderville First Nation:
    • "Expanding Rice Lake Plains Stewardship: Restoration, Carbon Sequestration and Biocultural Diversity by the Alderville Black Oak Savanna."
      • "The Black Oak Savanna site supports two types of globally rare grasslands: Tallgrass Prairie and Black Oak Savanna. Less than 3% of these habitats survive today in Ontario and throughout North America. Tallgrass ecosystems are highly effective carbon sinks. Carbon sinks are natural areas that absorb large amounts of carbon (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it through a process known as carbon sequestration. The Black Oak Savanna site has an approximate carbon sequestering power of 91.8 metric tons of CO2 per year. 
      • The bulk of our ecological restoration work centres around three main activities: Prescribed Burning, Establishing native species & Invasive species control. Scientists refer to the Alderville Black Oak Savanna as “the Jewel” of the savanna/tallgrass prairies in Ontario. Its uniqueness makes our site of special interest for research. Through nurturing these types of projects, we enhance our knowledge and understanding of grassland ecosystems."
  • Canadian Wildlife Federation:
    • "Native Seed Strategy Framework."
      • "Native plants are the foundation of all terrestrial food-chains, and so ecosystem restoration necessarily relies on revegetating the landscape with native plants. Native plants are sacred medicine, and kin to Indigenous peoples, and CWF acknowledges that native plants and their habitats continue to be destroyed through colonial attitudes and practices. Some plants and habitats can regenerate on their own from seeds lying dormant in the soil, but in highly damaged landscapes, where does the seed needed to restore the land come from? Can we help the right seeds disperse and germinate? 
      • With support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation is building a framework that will guide the development of an ethical, efficient, and effective National Native Seed Strategy (NNSS). The NNSS will help identify key actions to better meet the increasing need for nature-based solutions provided by native plants while also supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation, upholding Indigenous rights and sovereignty. We aim to address opportunities and challenges in four key areas related to native plants: decolonization and reconciliation, conservation and restoration, green jobs and circular economy, as well as knowledge building and knowledge transfer."
  •  Canadian Grassland Coalition:
    • "The Canadian Grassland Coalition is a collaborative network of individuals and organizations — not-for-profits, educators, scientists, Indigenous voices, producers, governments — across Canada that are passionate about grasslands. We all work in our own region(s) with stakeholders towards the conservation of natural grasslands. Together, we are a collective force advocating for the magnificence of grasslands, their value to Canadians, the threats they face, and the solutions to ensure that these precious landscapes remain vibrant, resilient, and full of life for generations to come."
    • How to get involved.

 

More research highlights coming soon!