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. 
 
The CFGA is joining the CFW and other coalition partners in conservation to showcase the secret life of grasslands through a new public awareness campaign designed to highlight the benefits and biodiversity of these essential habitats. The campaign aims to build national understanding of why grasslands matter and why their conservation is so important. It includes the launch of an interactive website, canadasgrasslands.ca, along with regular content shared across social media platforms. Canadians can follow along by searching #SecretLifeofGrasslands. 
 
The vital role of Canada’s grasslands 

Canada’s grasslands are among the country’s most valuable, and frequently overlooked, ecosystems. These working landscapes support a wide range of biodiversity, store immense amounts of carbon and help sustain rural communities. Too often, they are misunderstood or mistaken for cropland, leading many Canadians to overlook the complexity and productivity of these habitats. In reality, natural grasslands are vibrant ecological systems that deliver essential ecological services to people, wildlife and the agricultural sector. 
 
Grasslands also play a valuable role in climate resilience. Their deep-rooted plant communities capture and store billions of tonnes of carbon in the soil while naturally filtering and retaining fresh water. This underground network helps buffer communities from the impacts of floods and droughts, making grasslands a critical part of Canada’s climate adaptation and mitigation strategy. 
 
For the CFGA and its partners, protecting these landscapes is central to sustaining the ecological and economic foundations of Canada’s forage and livestock sectors. Although less than 20 per cent of native grasslands remain, they continue to support an extraordinary range of species that rely on open, healthy grassland environments. Farmers and ranchers, many of whom manage these working landscapes every day, are essential stewards in maintaining biodiversity, supporting soil health and contributing to national food security. Their management practices help preserve the very ecosystems that wildlife, pollinators and rural communities depend on. 
 
The CFGA’s involvement in the Canadian Grassland Coalition reflects its long-standing commitment to advancing grassland conservation, promoting sustainable forage production and strengthening the resilience of Canada’s agricultural landscapes. By working collaboratively across sectors, the coalition is helping ensure that the remaining native grasslands are recognized, valued and protected for generations to come. 
 
To learn more about the public awareness campaign and ongoing efforts to conserve Canada’s native grasslands, visit canadasgrasslands.ca. 
 
Read the full CWF media release here.