September 2026 | Volume 18 Issue 9

Happy September, everyone!



The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) monthly theme for September is 'Benefits to Society', to highlight how grasslands and their stewards enrich our communities in various ways. Keep an eye out for events and resources celebrating grasslands on this Trello board.


Make sure to check out some of the many news articles below, native prairie was in the news often in the last two months!



Upcoming Events

I'm excited to announce the 12th Native Prairie Restoration/ Reclamation Workshop will be occurring in Saskatoon, February 10-11, 2027. The Call for Abstracts will open in late September. Registration will open in late October. Similar to past NPRRW events, there will be plenaries, break-out sessions, case studies, a tradeshow, poster session and banquet. Stay tuned for more information!



Webinars

Our August Native Prairie Speaker Series webinar was about the woody plant encroachment. You can find the recording on YouTube. The September webinar will be about the Alberta program, Deep Roots! Register here. You can also register and find more information about other upcoming webinars here.


Thank you Sponsors

We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: 

K+S Youth+Us, North American Helium, Pembina, Sasktel, TC Energy, and Wildlife Habitat Canada, as well as the continuous support of all the PCAP Partners!


Carolyn Gaudet, SK PCAP Manager 

pcap@sasktel.net

Save the Date!


12th Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop


Similar to past NPRRW events, there will be plenaries, break-out sessions, case studies, a tradeshow, poster session and banquet.


The Call for Abstracts for Posters and Presentations will open in late September.

Registration will open in late October, but the registration costs are posted on the website. Submit your requests to attend now!


Stay tuned for more information!


Job Opportunities


The Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange is looking for a Program Manager. Application closes September 21, 2026.


Native Prairie in the News



Alberta’s lost prairie called a broken promise


New Saskatchewan range health assessment helps producers measure pasture performance


U of A research hub helps conserve Canadian grasslands 


USask signs MOU for community, environmental, sustainability research and education


The biggest threat to the rangelands isn’t what you’d guess


New prairie pastures management network takes root in Saskatchewan


Prescribed fires for grasslands including around Saskatoon, get a financial boost


Burrowing owl chicks are beginning to take flight: Nature Sask reminds drivers to watch out


Unregulated wetland drainage exposes gaps in Saskatchewan water oversight


Endangered monarch butterflies boom amid wet hot Canadian summer on the Prairies


Saskatchewan ranchers seeing the economics of prairie grasslands disappearing


Saskatoon grasslands advocates call for long-term restoration plan


Rare native plant discovered in diverse Macklin grasslands


Parks Canada's collaborative effort to protect, restore this ecosystem at risk


Grasslands National Park coin celebrates conservation and mixed-grass prairie habitat


Importance of Litter for Pasture Health


International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists!

Check out the SK Working Group's Trello board for upcoming International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists events and range-related content. You can find the Trello board for Canadian Resources here. There are quite a few field tours in Alberta on the IYRP Trello board. You can find more global information at the official IYRP website: https://iyrp.info/


Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is inviting organizations, networks and leaders from across the country to participate in a biweekly national Zoom call dedicated to collaboration, promotion and shared learning. You can register here.

Stay tuned for news about our upcoming Native Prairie Speaker Series webinars!

September Native Prairie Speaker Series


Topic: Deep Roots


Speaker: Ellie Annett, Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum


Tuesday September 29th, 2026 at 12:00 pm


Register free!

October Native Prairie Speaker Series


Fostering Community, Collaboration, and Coexistence in the Sturgeon River Plains Bison Herd's Stewardship


Speaker: Mia Nemeth, University of Saskatchewan


Tuesday October 6th, 2026 at 12:00 pm


Register free!

Upcoming Events

Nature Conservancy of Canada's Event: Become a Community Scientist at Asquith

September 12, 2026

@ 10 AM - 3 PM

Asquith, SK


Nature Saskatchewan's Fall Meet

September 18-20, 2026

Meadow Lake, SK


South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc.'s AGM

September 21, 2026

Consul, SK


SK Wildlife Federation's Fall Women's Outdoor Weekend

September 25-27, 2026

Candle Lake, SK


Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange's T-REX

October 19-23, 2026

Saskatoon, SK


Transboundary Grasslands Partnership Workshop

October 20-21, 2026

Cypress Hills, SK

Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s Annual Conference

November 9-12, 2026

Calgary, AB


Central Grasslands Roadmap

November 10-12, 2026

Chihuahua City, Mexico



Grassland Restoration Forum's Fall Information Session

November 19, 2026

Claresholm, AB


Western Canada Conference on Soil Health & Grazing 2026

December 8-10, 2026

Edmonton, AB


Living Labs - Central Prairies Conference

December 15-16, 2026

Saskatoon, SK


Native Prairie Restoration/ Reclamation Workshop

February 10-11, 2027

Saskatoon, SK

2026/27 Education Programs:

Presenting Sponsors:

 
Carolyn Gaudet, Editor, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Newsletter
 

SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2026-2027 from:

North American Helium, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada, K+S youth+us, Pembina, Saskatchewan Cattle Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, SaskEnergy, University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the Department of Plant Sciences, and the College of Arts & Science, Water Security Agency and Wildlife Habitat Canada.


SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges in-kind support for 2026-2027 from: 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Environment and Climate Change Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Meewasin Valley Authority, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Redberry Lake Biosphere Region, Salthaven West. Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Bison Association, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Saskatchewan Cattle 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, the Department of Plant Sciences, and the College of Arts & Science and Water Security Agency.