What Are Grasslands?

Rolling hills and eroded buttes under soft sunlight in a vast, dry prairie landscape.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

Can something of unimaginable beauty go unrecognized forever?

A bird stands on a small mound in a vast, grassy plain with distant hills under a clear sky.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

Imagine looking at a familiar landscape but not realizing the amazing things happening just beneath the surface, out of sight.

Sun sets over a grassy field with scattered trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Image Credit: Vicky Papuga

Canada’s grasslands are an example of this. Stretching from British Columbia to Quebec, these vast open spaces may seem simple at first glance, but they hold deeper secrets — a life ready to be discovered.

Beyond what meets the eye, a rich tapestry of grass species makes up the grasslands, each variety as surprising and unique as the next. Vibrant plants and unique wildlife thrive here, with some species found nowhere else on Earth.

Above all, Canada’s grasslands are alive — teeming with life, colour and sound.

A small brown bird perched on a leafy shrub in a grassy field.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

A bee collects nectar from the orange center of a purple coneflower with green foliage in the background.
Two prairie dogs stand upright on a dirt mound in a dry, open landscape with scattered rocks.

Image Credit: Jeff Skevington

Why Grasslands Are Important

Why They Need Conservation

We Barely Got to Know Them

80% of Canada’s grasslands have disappeared. The remaining 20% — and the vital Indigenous stories about these landscapes — are all that stand between us and the grassland habitat that we risk losing forever.

They’re Underrecognized

Fewer than one in five Canadians recognize natural grasslands as unique and valuable. Although natural grasslands resemble parks, lawns, crops and pastures, they are distinct and support unique biodiversity that most Canadians have never experienced.

They Can’t Be Replaced

Grassland soil is a complex, living ecosystem that takes centuries to build. Once disturbed for development or agriculture, natural grasslands vanish, often irreversibly. This destroys critical carbon storage and native seed banks, breaking down the ecosystem's delicate balance and threatening its species.

They’re Essential to Our Future

Canada takes pride in its wild places, but the puzzle isn't complete without grasslands. These unique, vital ecosystems sustain us. If they disappear, we lose the lands and waters that support our country's story.

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A brown and white spotted burrowing owl stands on the ground, looking directly at the camera in a natural grassy habitat.

Image Credit: Ray Hennessy

What You Can Do

Want to support the future of Canada’s grasslands?

There’s plenty you can do! Start by learning about these incredible ecosystems — what they are and how they’re woven into Canadian life. Visit Canada’s grasslands to experience their wonder firsthand! You can also get involved by exploring the work of our Grassland Coalition partners or writing to your local government to advocate for grassland conservation.

Explore how you can help

Coalition Members

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.

Canadian Wildlife Federation logo with stylized bird icon and organization name in bold, uppercase letters.
Alberta" written in a black cursive, stylized font on a white background.
Logo showing a yellow and gray bird perched on a branch with text: "Birds Canada" and "Oiseaux Canada.
CFGA logo with a red maple leaf in the letter "C" and green blades of grass forming part of the letter "A".
Map of North America with images of people, animals, and grasslands, promoting the Central Grasslands Roadmap website.
Logo for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Saskatchewan Chapter
Forests Canada logo with a stylized green tree icon and green text on a white background.
Logo of the Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia with a bird flying over grass and the initials GCC.
Logo with "Bee City Brandon" text, a bee illustration, and colorful flowers forming a circular border. Text: "Since 2018.
Logo for SODCAP featuring two riders on horseback in a landscape, with text below for South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc.
The word "Meewasin" in blue text with green and blue stylized lines above the last three letters on a white background.
Black and white Nature Saskatchewan logo with birds, cattails, and a lake scene inside a circular border.
Green maple leaf above the words "Nature Conservancy Canada" in green capital letters on a white background.
Logo with four prairie landscape panels, a deer, a flying bird, and text: Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum.
Society for Range Management logo with silhouette of a rider on horseback; text reads Prairie Parkland Chapter.
Logo for Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, featuring a person with a horse and mountains in the background.
Black and white logo of an owl in flight with "AWA" and "Alberta Wilderness Association" written below.
Canadian Cattle Association logo with a cow silhouette over a red maple leaf and green fields, text on the right.
A logo with a flying bird over prairie landscape and text: Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan.
University of Saskatchewan kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre logo with website and college name.

What Are Grasslands?

Rolling hills and eroded buttes under soft sunlight in a vast, dry prairie landscape.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

A bird stands on a small mound in a vast, grassy plain with distant hills under a clear sky.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

Can something of unimaginable beauty go unrecognized forever?

Sun sets over a grassy field with scattered trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Image Credit: Vicky Papuga

Imagine looking at a familiar landscape but not realizing the amazing things happening just beneath the surface, out of sight.

Canada’s grasslands are an example of this. Stretching from British Columbia to Quebec, these vast open spaces may seem simple at first glance, but they hold deeper secrets — a life ready to be discovered.

Beyond what meets the eye, a rich tapestry of grass species makes up the grasslands, each variety as surprising and unique as the next. Vibrant plants and unique wildlife thrive here, with some species found nowhere else on Earth.

Above all, Canada’s grasslands are alive — teeming with life, colour and sound.

A small brown bird perched on a leafy shrub in a grassy field.

Image Credit: Vincent Fyson

A bee collects nectar from the orange center of a purple coneflower with green foliage in the background.
Two prairie dogs stand upright on a dirt mound in a dry, open landscape with scattered rocks.

Image Credit: Jeff Skevington

Why Grasslands Are Important

Use left and right arrow keys alone to navigate each slide. Food Production
Use left and right arrow keys alone to navigate each slide. Biodiversity
Use left and right arrow keys alone to navigate each slide. Climate Resilience
Use left and right arrow keys alone to navigate each slide. Canadian Identity
Use left and right arrow keys alone to navigate each slide. Indigenous Guardianship

Why They Need Conservation

We Barely Got to Know Them

80% of Canada’s grasslands have disappeared. The remaining 20% — and the vital Indigenous stories about these landscapes — are all that stand between us and the grassland habitat that we risk losing forever.

They’re Underrecognized

Fewer than one in five Canadians recognize natural grasslands as unique and valuable. Although natural grasslands resemble parks, lawns, crops and pastures, they are distinct and support unique biodiversity that most Canadians have never experienced.

They Can’t Be Replaced

Grassland soil is a complex, living ecosystem that takes centuries to build. Once disturbed for development or agriculture, natural grasslands vanish, often irreversibly. This destroys critical carbon storage and native seed banks, breaking down the ecosystem's delicate balance and threatening its species.

They’re Essential to Our Future

Canada takes pride in its wild places, but the puzzle isn't complete without grasslands. These unique, vital ecosystems sustain us. If they disappear, we lose the lands and waters that support our country's story.

Image Credit: Alex Taylor

A brown and white spotted burrowing owl stands on the ground, looking directly at the camera in a natural grassy habitat.
A brown and white spotted burrowing owl stands on the ground, looking directly at the camera in a natural grassy habitat.

Image Credit: Ray Hennessy

What You Can Do

Want to support the future of Canada’s grasslands?

There’s plenty you can do! Start by learning about these incredible ecosystems — what they are and how they’re woven into Canadian life. Visit Canada’s grasslands to experience their wonder firsthand! You can also get involved by exploring the work of our Grassland Coalition partners or writing to your local government to advocate for grassland conservation.

Explore how you can help

Coalition Members

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.

Canadian Wildlife Federation logo with stylized bird icon and organization name in bold, uppercase letters.
Alberta" written in a black cursive, stylized font on a white background.
Logo showing a yellow and gray bird perched on a branch with text: "Birds Canada" and "Oiseaux Canada.
CFGA logo with a red maple leaf in the letter "C" and green blades of grass forming part of the letter "A".
Map of North America with images of people, animals, and grasslands, promoting the Central Grasslands Roadmap website.
Logo for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Saskatchewan Chapter
Forests Canada logo with a stylized green tree icon and green text on a white background.
Logo of the Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia with a bird flying over grass and the initials GCC.
Logo with "Bee City Brandon" text, a bee illustration, and colorful flowers forming a circular border. Text: "Since 2018.
Logo for SODCAP featuring two riders on horseback in a landscape, with text below for South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc.
The word "Meewasin" in blue text with green and blue stylized lines above the last three letters on a white background.
Black and white Nature Saskatchewan logo with birds, cattails, and a lake scene inside a circular border.
Green maple leaf above the words "Nature Conservancy Canada" in green capital letters on a white background.
Logo with four prairie landscape panels, a deer, a flying bird, and text: Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum.
Society for Range Management logo with silhouette of a rider on horseback; text reads Prairie Parkland Chapter.
Logo for Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, featuring a person with a horse and mountains in the background.
Black and white logo of an owl in flight with "AWA" and "Alberta Wilderness Association" written below.
Canadian Cattle Association logo with a cow silhouette over a red maple leaf and green fields, text on the right.
A logo with a flying bird over prairie landscape and text: Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan.
University of Saskatchewan kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre logo with website and college name.