Native Prairie Grasslands

The Canadian Prairie ecozone: roughly 465,094 km², which is almost 5 per cent of Canada’s landmass. This is 16 per cent of the Great Plains of North America.

Grasslands are extraordinary wildernesses that are among the world’s most endangered ecosystems. The diversity of wildlife species on grasslands has been replaced by crops, roads, oil and gas development and sprawling cities and towns. Less than 20 per cent of native grasslands remain and what is left is critical habitat necessary to recover declining species at risk like the Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, Swift Fox, Greater Sage Grouse, and Long-billed Curlew. CWF is working to conserve native grasslands and wildlife in SK and AB.

The Great Plains once stretched unimpeded from Mexico to Canada, spanning southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Plains Bison roamed in herds millions strong, their thunderous presence carving habitat in the landscape for many species including badgers, Pronghorn, prairie dogs, grassland birds, insects and rare plants. Great Plains wolves and the prairie population of Grizzly Bears thrived on these great herds, hunting openly among flowers and grasses. Indigenous Peoples built powerful nations and rich cultures on the natural abundance of these lands, prospering for millennia. The calls of Sprague’s Pipit and Chestnut-collared Longspur signaled the start of spring, while great migrants like Snow Geese gathered in droves to rest and refuel at abundant wetlands and prairie potholes on their way to their Arctic breeding grounds.

There are six types of native grassland in the Canadian prairies: Tallgrass and Lake Manitoba Plains found in the east where rainclouds are more generous, Moist and Dry Mixedgrass in Saskatchewan and Alberta with a drier climate and Foothills Fescue and Cypress Uplands where elevation changes everything, including soils and local weather.

The Canadian grasslands have been home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. The landscape and species that live on the grasslands are intricately tied to Indigenous cultures, livelihoods, medicines and food security. The native prairie grasslands in what is now known as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the traditional territories of many nations, including the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai, Tsuutʼina, Stoney, Nakoda, Lakota, Dakota, Nêhiyawak (Cree), Anihšināpēk (Ojibwe/Saulteaux) and Métis Nations. The Canadian Wildlife Federation acknowledges that these native prairie grasslands are Treaties 1–7 territory and the homeland of the Métis/Michif.

For millennia, Indigenous Peoples have lived in harmony with the ecosystem of the prairies, sustainably harvesting animals, berries and plants for food, and medicines. Bison and other wildlife have also been an essential source of shelter, clothing, and tools. The importance of wildlife and grassland habitat was and is still reflected in Regalia, ceremonies, art, storytelling, dances and economic activities.

• Learn more about historic Treaties >
• Download a map of Treaty making in Canada, clicking on the image and zooming in on the Numbered Treaties of the plains >
• Learn more about Indigenous communities’ way of living with the land >

The native grasslands of Canada continue to be under threat.

Beyond experiencing the peace that comes from being surrounded by swaying grasses, wildflowers and bird song, grasslands benefit us in many ways.

Soil is an intricate web of life that provides many services. It cycles nutrients, stores flood water, prevents surface erosion, and stores carbon. Native grassland soils can store tonnes of carbon and research to understand how soil management affects carbon storage is underway. As forests become ever more vulnerable to fire, grasslands may be a more reliable carbon sink than trees.

Prairie wildflowers support numerous pollinator species such as bees, birds, butterflies, flower flies and beetles. Some of these species are also critical for pollinating domestic crops. Wildflowers provide pollinators with nectar when crops aren’t in flower.

Prairie wetlands are not only critical habitats for many of North America’s waterfowl and other wildlife, but are key natural infrastructure that helps prevent floods, capture sediment, filter run-off and recharge groundwater. Like the rich, fertile soil of native grasslands, they also provide climate protection via carbon stores.

As climate change intensifies, healthy grasslands will be vital in supporting resilient communities in the face of droughts and extreme weather events.

Native grasslands are evolved to withstand exactly the kind of weather fluctuations that climate change will bring to the Canadian prairies. The wild plants and animals that still live on native grasslands are adapted to drought and flood, the extremes of heat and cold and the kinds of winds that climate changes scientists predict for the North American Great Plains.

However, less than 20 per cent of the grasslands in prairie Canada remain native. The rest have been put to the plow, paved, drilled, or mined. With these changes, resilience to climate change has evaporated. Crops, suffering through a long hot growing season will need vanishing water resources to grow. The challenge to feed cattle will grow as grass and forages wither in the dry heat. Grasslands abandoned will be more likely to grow back with shrubs that use deeper roots to tap groundwater and grow vigorously in a high carbon atmosphere. Climate change will have profound effects on Canada’s native grasslands.