The Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub (GLKH) is wrapping up its second year and the project is gaining real traction. What began as a collaborative idea has grown into a national effort to better understand, support and sustain Canada’s grassland ecosystems. 
 
As a founding partner with the University of Alberta, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Restore Assert Defend (RAD) Network, the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is helping shape this work in ways that reflect both the complexity of grassland systems and the practical realities faced by producers. This five‑year project began in 2024 and is part of a national initiative supported through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. 
 
From the outset, the GLKH aligned naturally with the CFGA’s mandate. The CFGA’s work has long focused on developing tools, programs and communications that help grassland managers make informed decisions. Over the past several years, the CFGA has advanced major initiatives such as the Canada Grassland Protocol, the Habitat Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT), the On Farm Climate Action Fund and new training programs in grazing and forage management. The Hub provides a space to connect these efforts with broader research, policy analysis and on-the-ground experience. 
 
Earlier in March, the CFGA hosted an online GLKH project update that brought together project partners and stakeholders to connect, learn and advance their shared commitment to the long-term stewardship of Canada’s grasslands. 
 
The importance of the work is clear. Canada’s national grassland inventory shows our grasslands are still shrinking and grassland bird populations are also declining. These trends highlight the need for a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach – one that brings together ecological science, economics, policy, Indigenous knowledge and producer perspectives. The Hub was created to do exactly that. 
 
A central theme of the gathering was collaboration. Many organizations across the Prairies and beyond are already working on grassland conservation, each from a different angle. The Hub is designed to open the gate rather than close it. It creates a shared space where knowledge can move freely, where partners can learn from one another and where the collective effort becomes stronger than the sum of its parts. Workshops held over the past year have helped ground the project in regional realities and diverse knowledge systems. 
 
The Hub’s work is organized around several interconnected areas. The policy team is examining the drivers of grassland loss, Indigenous policy frameworks, existing legislation, governance structures and the influence of insurance programs on land-use decisions. The economics team is exploring opportunity costs, producer decision making, public willingness to pay for conservation and the integration of biodiversity values. The human dimensions group is delving into landowner and public attitudes, barriers to participation and the cultural and social factors that shape conservation choices. Meanwhile, the learning and knowledge team is mapping who is doing what across the Great Plains and identifying gaps and opportunities in extension and knowledge transfer. A growing community of innovation is also taking shape, connecting practitioners and researchers across North America who are working on natural climate solutions in grassland systems. 
 
The first two years of the project focused on building a strong foundation that included hiring graduate students, launching research, establishing working groups and building relationships. The next phase will see deeper analysis, broader engagement and the emergence of practical recommendations that can inform future programs and policies. 
 
The timing is significant. With 2026 designated as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), there is a unique opportunity to elevate the importance of grasslands across Canada. The CFGA is leading national efforts to mark the year and the Hub will continue to support and amplify this work. 
 
The project also connects with cross-border initiatives such as the Central Grasslands Roadmap and the Indigenous Kinship Circle, recognizing that grassland ecosystems and the communities who steward them extend far beyond provincial and national boundaries. 
 
As the Hub continues to grow, so does the sense of shared purpose. The work ahead is complex, but the commitment across this community is strong. Together, this work is building the knowledge, relationships and momentum needed to support resilient, productive and thriving grasslands for generations to come. 
 
Learn more about the GLKH here. Sign up for updates, including the GLKH quarterly newsletter, here.