Key facts
- Prairie landscapes have diminished from approximately 20% intact in Saskatchewan 20 years ago to less than 14% today.
- The UN has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to raise awareness.
- Native grasslands face risks from spikes in land prices, agricultural policies, and shifts in land ownership.
- Sustainable grazing producers forgo immediate crop profits for long-term land stewardship.
- Prairie ecosystems provide benefits including carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, water filtration, and biodiversity conservation.
Once covering vast expanses, prairie landscapes in regions like Saskatchewan have seen a significant decline, with intact native grasslands dropping from approximately 20% twenty years ago to less than 14% today. This reduction is attributed to land settlement, conversion for annual crop production, and various developments. The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to highlight the global importance of these ecosystems and their stewards. Locally, Native Prairie Appreciation Week in June aims to raise awareness.