CWF and Partners Showcase Secret Life of Grasslands

Press Release

OTTAWA, Ontario, Feb. 10, 2026  — The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and partners in conservation are showcasing The Secret Life of Grasslands in a new public awareness campaign to help conserve these disappearing landscapes and the plants and animals that depend on them.

“One of Canada’s most important ecosystems is often completely overlooked,” said John Wilmshurst, Native Grassland Conservation Manager for CWF. “A natural grassland is much more than an empty field, it is a vibrant landscape filled with wildlife, providing services to Canadians.”

Canada’s grasslands support biodiversity, store carbon, and keep local communities thriving. Yet they are often unknown, mistaken as croplands, or overlooked as being barren, rough and deserted, Wilmshurst explained. As part of the 35-member Canadian Grasslands Coalition, CWF is raising awareness about the benefits and biodiversity of these important habitats.

“We must all work together to take care of what is left of the grasslands for all generations of the future,” said Candice Pete-Cardoso, Director, kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre, University of Saskatchewan.

Canadian grasslands store billions of tonnes of carbon, a vital and natural solution to mitigate climate change. Their deep-rooted plant communities filter fresh water, reducing the impacts of floods and droughts for thousands of communities

“Though less than 20 per cent of our native grasslands remain, they are still teeming with biodiversity,” said Mitchell Zoratti, Environment & Climate Change Manager, Canadian Cattle Association. “These vital ecosystems are disappearing quickly — and with them, so are species that depend on their shelter and abundance. Beef farmers and ranchers, who steward much of these working landscapes, play a key role to help sustain this biodiversity while contributing to food security and rural livelihoods.”

To learn more about the public awareness campaign and ongoing efforts to conserve Canada’s native grasslands, visit canadasgrasslands.ca. #SecretLifeofGrasslands

Quick Facts:

• There are 90 species at risk in Canadian grasslands, including BC and Ontario grasslands
• Endangered Canadian grasslands species include birds like the Burrowing Owl, Chestnut-collared Longspur and Sprague’s Pipit as well as mammals like the Swift Fox
• Grasslands store more than one-third of the world’s land-based carbon, mostly in the soil
• The top 60 centimetres of soil in Canada’s native grasslands hold more than 100 tonnes of carbon per hectare
• A survey by Abacus Data and CWF was conducted in 2023. The survey shows that fewer than one in four Canadians recognize that grasslands are among the world’s most endangered ecosystems
• About two-thirds of grassland biomass is hidden underground, which is why they are often described as upside down forests
• Canadian grasslands are threatened by climate change, invasive species and development, including conversion to cropland

Candice Pete-Cardoso Quote in Nêhiyawêwin

“Pōko ka wīcihtok ka manācihtāyak paskwāw, ka iskopayik mēkwāk, otē nīkān tēpakohp ka anaskopitamihk,”

English translation:

We must all work together to take care of what is left of the grasslands for all generations of the future

Candice Pete-Cardoso, Director, kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre, University of Saskatchewan.

For more information: media@cwf-fcf.org

Or

John Wilmshurst, CWF Native Grassland Manager: 780-820-3006
jwilmshurst@cwf-fcf.org

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