30 Jeremy Hogan, Director of Prairie Grassland Conservation Nature Conservancy Canada B Born and raised in Calgary, we took many family camping trips into the Prairies. I was always awed by the mas- sive expanses of grasslands, the endless blue skies, and the diversity of birds, mammals and insects we would see. I remember having to clean our wind- shield at every stop along the way because the dead bugs accumulated so quickly as we drove along. These days, invertebrate populations have col- lapsed, the swarms have all but disap- peared, and I don’t think my kids even know that gas stations have squeegees. We can think of our too-clean wind- shields as the canary in the coal mine: Prairie ecosystems are in trouble, and our agricultural productivity may fol- low if we don’t act. Prairie grasslands are workhorses, absorbing and storing billions of tonnes of carbon, providing protection from flooding and drought, and help- ing purify our water. These landscapes, spanning much of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, also play an important role in agriculture. More than 70 per cent of Canada’s agricultur- al land mass is found across this region. We rely on the food grown on this land every day; land that is typically con- verted from natural ecosystems and accompanied by a loss of biodiversity. Across Canada’s Prairie grasslands, less than 20 per cent of these natural habi- tats remain intact, and more is lost every year. Recognizing the importance of agricul- ture to humanity and the potential for better harmony between production and conservation, the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework created Target 10 to ensure that areas of agriculture, and other productive sectors, are managed sustainably. A recent survey conducted by Abacus on behalf of the Canadian Wildlife Federation suggests that the vast majority (greater than 75 per cent) of Canadians are unfamiliar with our native Prairie ecosystems, or that they are one of the most endangered ecosys- tems on the planet. Yet, the same study demonstrates that once informed, Canadians are supportive of efforts to conserve what remains. We need to ensure that the significance of our Prairies, and the agricultural stewards who keep these places functional and thriving, remain a secret no longer. Precious, productive lands While much can be achieved through more sustainable agricultural practices across the country, the grazing of cattle on our native Prairie grasslands pro- vides Canada with a fortuitous oppor- tunity where food production and bio- diversity can be mutually beneficial. Ranches require large, contiguous blocks of intact grasslands for grazing, and they contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation in the agri- cultural context. Ranches make up just over a third of Canada’s agricultural land use, yet nearly 70 per cent of wildlife found on agricultural lands are found on ranches. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact sustainable cattle grazing has on grass- land health and the plants and animals that live there. This includes endan- gered species with specific habitat requirements and many grasses and other plants that thrive in grazed land- scapes. Cows and other large grazing mammals are effective at dispersing seeds long distances, and their dung offers an injection of nutrients into the landscape. Evolving tools and approaches to accelerating conservation It is crucial that NCC prioritizes the most effective and efficient conserva- tion opportunities available. Its work is rooted in an evidence-based deci- sion-making process that incorporates high-quality information from collabo- rators across the country, representative of diverse worldviews and lived experi- ences, supplemented by NCC’s open- source spatial analysis toolkit. This process allows us to be sure that our efforts are resulting in durable out- comes and creating resilient land- scapes. The Canadian Prairies are one of the most densely settled areas in Canada, and there is a high degree of overlap between key biodiversity areas and pri- vately owned lands in this region. Growing Harmony: Agriculture and Conservation CONSERVATION
