The prairie advantage

Stewardship, collaboration, conservation

 anada’s prairie grasslands support a diverse range of species, including migratory birds, pollinators and people, while also sustaining soil health, water systems and livestock production. Yet this globally important natural carbon reservoir is disappearing at an alarming rate. Once spanning 141 million acres, Canada’s prairies have been reduced by more than 80 per cent.

“Canada’s prairie grasslands are some of the most ecologically valuable and threatened ecosystems in the world, and we have a responsibility to prevent their permanent and irreversible loss,” says Christian Bauta, chair of the Weston Family Foundation. 

In 2021, the Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative awarded $30-million to five organizations to lead one of the largest prairie grasslands conservation efforts in Canadian history. Since then, significant progress has been made. Over one million acres of grasslands are now being stewarded, protected or restored through the collective efforts of conservation organizations, ranchers, Indigenous communities and other partners. 

“There’s no singular solution,” says Mr. Bauta. “These are working landscapes, and protecting them means supporting a range of long-term solutions that reflect the realities of the people connected to the land.”

As part of the initiative’s next phase, 10 organizations have been awarded $37-million over five years to scale proven approaches, expand partnerships and address emerging challenges.

To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com

To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition The prairie advantage