The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is part of a national grassland coalition established in June 2024 committed to learning about, conserving, protecting and advocating for natural grasslands. Led by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), the Canadian Grassland Coalition (CGC) is dedicated to improving Canadians’ awareness of the importance and vulnerability of Canada’s natural grasslands.

Join the Canadian Wildlife Federation and members of the Canadian Grassland Coalition for a national webinar series about Canada’s grasslands. Learn why these landscapes matter, the species that depend on them, and the conservation actions underway to protect them.

The Meewasin Valley in Saskatoon contains important native grasslands situated within a rapidly growing urban and peri-urban landscape. As the city expands, these ecosystems face increasing pressures, including over-use, invasive species, shrub encroachment, and shifting public expectations. 

This presentation shares practical, field-based experiences from managing grasslands in the Meewasin Valley, highlighting both challenges and effective management responses. The session will explore how disturbance-based tools, particularly prescribed fire and targeted grazing, can be applied in urban settings to maintain ecological function, build resilience, and address common drivers of grassland decline.  Urban grasslands also play a vital social role, serving as accessible places where people can experience, understand, and engage in grassland conservation. The talk will examine how management, communication, and public interaction intersect in highly visible landscapes, offering insights into how growing cities can both steward and celebrate native grassland ecosystems. 

Speaker: 

Renny W. Grilz, PAg is Director of Conservation at the Meewasin Valley Authority in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he leads conservation, restoration, and stewardship initiatives across one of Canada’s most ecologically significant urban river valleys. With over 30 years of experience in prairie conservation, he has worked across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba, specializing in grassland management, ecological restoration, invasive species control, prescribed fire, and grazing systems.  Renny is a founding member of the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange and co-owner of Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company, a family-run native seed and plant business supporting restoration and biodiversity across the Prairie Provinces. His work emphasizes practical, disturbance-based management approaches that build resilient ecosystems in both rural and urban landscapes.  A 2024 Nuffield Canada Scholar, Renny has presented widely on grasslands, restoration, and land management, and is known for translating ecological science into applied, field-grounded strategies. 

Future webinars : 

April 8, 2026 — Applying the Bird-friendliness Index to Address Systemic Drivers of Grassland Bird Declines
April 15, 2026 — Working Landscapes: Ranching and Grassland Stewardship
April 22, 2026 — Pollinators, Plants & People: Connecting Urban Communities With Manitoba’s Grasslands
April 29, 2026 — Indigenous-led Grasslands Conservation Initiatives
May 13, 2026 — Grasslands in Focus: Learning for the Future