June 2024 | Volume 16 Issue 6 | |
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Happy June, Prairie Friends!
The 26th Native Prairie Appreciation Week is June 16th-22nd! The purpose of NPAW is to raise awareness and appreciation of native prairie ecosystems and their importance to Saskatchewan’s provincial, environmental and agricultural sectors. It is the only week in North America devoted to recognizing and celebrating diverse value of native grasslands.
We have our photo contest, a youth poster contest, we'll be handing out native seed packets at Farmer's Markets in Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current. More information on NPAW activities can be found below or here.
We're also working with the Society for Range Management-Prairie Parkland Chapter to plan this year's tour that will be held in the Avonlea area, June 19-20, 2024. The registration page can be found here. You have one week to register!
We have two webinars in during NPAW! Dr. Troy McMullin is returning to talk about Adventures in Lichenology on June 17th. Register here. And the Royal SK Museum will be sharing about prairie research and collections on June 18th. Register here.
The May webinar on the management of brome by Anabel Dombro.
You can find all our recorded webinars on our YouTube Channel.
And finally, we would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association, K+S Youth+Us, North American Helium, Nutrien, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the continuous support of all the PCAP Partners.
Carolyn Gaudet, SK PCAP Manager
pcap@sasktel.net
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Native Prairie Appreciation Week!
Native Prairie Appreciation Week 2024 is June 16th - 22nd!
We have two webinars planned! More details and links to register can be found here.
We'll also be doing our Native Prairie Photo Contest again this year! We can't wait to see your photos on social media! Categories: Best Native Prairie Wildflower,
Best Wildlife in Action and
Best Native Prairie Landscape.
Send your best shot to npawcontest@gmail.com by June 14th to be entered into the Social Media Photo Contest. The picture with the most votes in each category will be the winner!
Caitlin is working on a social media campaign, keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels for NPAW-related information!
We're also doing our Youth Poster Contest! The deadline for submissions was May 31st. We're excited to judge the submissions! We'll post the winners in the July edition of the newsletter.
We will be handing out packets of native wildflower seeds at various farmers' markets during NPAW! We are attending :
Regina Farmers Market on June 15th
Swift Current Farmers Market on June 22nd
Moose Jaw Farmers Market on June 22nd
Come visit us and get a few packets of native wildflower seeds from Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company!
We would like to thank our Presenting Sponsor for Native Prairie Appreciation Week:
|  |  |  | The SK and MB Native Seed Collaborative is a new initiative formed by a diverse group of native seed producers and users. The group meets 3 to 4 times per year and shares information related to all aspects of prairie restoration including such things as existing seed supply and demand, effective seed collection, cleaning, and storage. The goal of the collaborative is to increase the availability of locally adapted native plant seeds, through contracts, shared resources, and potentially seed exchanges. The hope is that members will eventually be able to share seed collection and cleaning equipment, storage facilities, experiences, and knowledge to ensure quality seed is not a limiting factor for restoration activities in the two provinces. If you or someone from your organization would like to participate in the discussions, please reach out to: prairieseedcollaborative@gmail.com | |
SURVEY - Producers or Users of Native Seeds or Plants
Have you bought or produced native seeds and plants? We invite you to participate in the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan’s market assessment of the native plant materials industry in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba!
This survey is only done once every ten years and is incredibly important. The information collected will help guide the industry into the future, helping both users and producers of native plant materials by making a more efficient and effective marketplace. Please share widely!
Everyone who completes the survey will be entered to win a cash prize of $200. Survey closes July 30 and is open to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba residents.
View the surveys (separate ones for producers and users) and more information here: https://www.npss.sk.ca/news-and-events/317
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Partner Spotlight:
Birds Canada
Our mission at Birds Canada is to drive action to increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of birds in Canada.
Birds Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, passionate staff, and more than 74,000 volunteers are taking action to help save wild birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s voice for birds.
Why Birds Matter
Birds are fascinating and inspiring. When you hear a song from the trees or catch a glimpse out your window, it’s a moment of joy and wonder. Birds are a daily, delightful connection to nature.
Birds also provide essential services in your neighbourhood and across Canada, including pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and helping to control insects.
Birds are excellent environmental indicators–they are nature’s sentinels. Monitoring birds allows us to understand the overall health of our ecosystems and the environment.
The decline of any single species of birds is a tragedy in itself, but can also indicate larger causes for concern. Monitoring and early detection of bird declines is critical in determining priorities for conservation action and helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change. When we see species population rebounding, it shows us the direct result of conservation strategies that are working. Conversely, with every species population that rebounds as a result of conservation, there is a success story worth celebrating.
Monitoring and conserving bird populations and their habitats supports a healthy environment for every living thing–including people! Creating an appreciation of birds can help connect us to each other and the natural world.
How we help birds
Birds Canada addresses conservation priorities through our six program areas:
Assessing the State of Canada’s birds: We conduct sector-leading science and large-scale population monitoring to inform the conservation of all bird groups.
Species of Highest Concern: We act to reverse the precipitous declines of imperiled species and bird groups most at risk.
International Collaboration and Conservation: We forge innovative partnerships to fill critical knowledge gaps and support our shared responsibility for conserving migratory birds.
Long Point Bird Observatory: We’re building on our proud history of Long Point stewardship, migration research, national collaboration, education, and community.
Important Places for Birds: We support nature-based solutions to protect the havens of bird biodiversity.
Mobilizing People in Canada: We welcome all bird enthusiasts, raise awareness and provide meaningful opportunities for people to take action.
Birds Canada just released ‘Stemming the Loss of Grasslands in Canada: A Scan of Policy Solutions’ that outlines the opportunities that policy changes offer to conserve grasslands and all the birds, mammals, plants, insects, amphibians, and reptiles that rely on these largely working lands. More information can be found here
Birds Canada also has an award-winning podcast named The Warblers. You can check it out on the Birds Canada website or subscribe for free wherever you get your podcasts!
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Stay tuned for news about our upcoming Native Prairie Speaker Series webinars! | |
June Native Prairie Speaker Series
Adventures in Lichenology
Monday June 17th, 2024 at 12 PM MT
Speaker: Dr. Troy McMullin, Research Scientist, Lichenology, Canadian Museum of Nature
Register Free
More information
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The Royal Saskatchewan Museum - a hub of prairie research and collections
Tuesday June 18th, 2024 at 12 PM MT
Speakers: Ryan Fisher and Ryan Oram, Royal Saskatchewan Museum
Register Free
More information
SAVE THE DATE
Redberry Lake Biosphere Region Update
Speaker: Mike Blom, Redberry Lake Biosphere Region
Tuesday July 30th, 2024 at 12 PM
Register Free
More Information
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Wild About Saskatoon's Pollinator Celebration and Native Plant Market
June 9, 2024
Buena Vista, SK
SSGA's AGM and Convention
June 9-11, 2024
Swift Current, SK
NCC's Celebrating Grassland Conservation at Cave Pasture
June 12, 2024
near Swift Current, SK
Native Prairie Appreciation Week
June 16-22, 2024
SK Forage Council's AGM and Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Field Day
June 18, 2024
Clavet, SK
Nature Saskatchewan's Spring Meet
June 21-23, 2024
Saskatoon, SK
Southern Alberta Youth Range Days
July 16-18, 2024
Canadian Beef Industry Conference
August 19-22, 2024
Saskatoon, SK
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For Educators
SK PCAP has two free education programs available.
See more info here!
SaskOutdoors has a number of PD and facilitator training courses available this month. You can check them out here.
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2024/25 Education Programs:
Presenting Sponsors:
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Carolyn Gaudet, Editor, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Newsletter | |
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SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2024-2025 from:
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, North American Helium, Nutrien, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada, K+S youth+us, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, TC Energy, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Water Security Agency and Wildlife Habitat Canada.
SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges in-kind support for 2024-25 from:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Meewasin Valley Authority, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park, Prairie Wind & Silver Sage, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Redberry Lake Biosphere Region, Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Bison Association, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Forage Council, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, SaskEnergy, SaskOutdoors, SaskPower, Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources.
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