The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association is pleased to sponsor the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan’s (Sask PCAP) Native Prairie Speakers Series webinars. Join speaker Dr. Dale Gross, a grasslands ecologist with Saskatchewan Parks, as he speaks about strategies to reintroduce prescribed fire as a grassland management process in prairie Saskatchewan.

About this Webinar: Prescribed fire is a vital tool in grassland management, helping to reduce wildfire risk, control invasive species, and improve biodiversity and productivity. However, reintroducing this practice in Saskatchewan’s prairie ecosystems presents a complex set of challenges.

This webinar will present research evaluating organizational strategies for restoring fire to these landscapes. Dr. Gross will share insights from a multi-agency workshop that examined burn plans, practitioner experiences, and institutional limitations. Themes discussed include the need for training and education, public engagement, and inter-agency communication.

The webinar will also highlight the formation and success of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange, which has become a key collaborative initiative to address shared barriers and support effective fire programs.

Learn how different agencies approach prescribed fire whether through large-scale efforts with dedicated funding or smaller, low-cost collaborative burns and how cooperation can drive meaningful ecological outcomes.

About the Speaker: Dr. Dale Gross, Ph.D., P.Ag., is a grassland ecologist with Saskatchewan Parks specializing in rangeland management, fire – grazing interaction, and collaborating with stakeholders to benefit environmental and economic outcomes. He is the former director of conservation at Nature Conservancy Canada, program manager with SK Pastures Program, range officer with the BC Ministry of Forests and Range and continues to work on his family farm near Bayard, SK.

PCAP’s Native Prairie Speaker Series is a monthly webinar about prairie conservation or species at risk.