Presenter: John K. Pattison-Williams, Canadian Forage & Grasslands Association
Presentation Summary:
Grassland ecosystems are in decline across the continent of North America. Historically, monitoring change in these ecosystems has occurred in disparate places with disparate methods. While local context matters, different methodologies between provinces, states and federal governments have meant that a cohesive inventory of grassland change has been incredibly challenging to compile and maintain. This disparity has led to different messages and often confusion among stakeholder groups. As such, larger inventories using new remote sensing technologies has assisted this process. Initiatives such as the Canadian Grassland Inventory (CFGA) and the Central Grasslands Roadmap are making progress to address this challenge. This presentation will explore the various initiatives across the biome (continental) level and share some challenges and lessons for success.
About the Presenter:
John K. Pattison-Williams is President of Pattison Resource Consulting, which specializ-es in the interaction between environmental conservation and economic development and Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta in natural resource economics. John holds a Doctorate in Natural Resource Management from the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) at the University of Greenwich, UK; a Master of Science in Agricultural Econom-ics from the University of Alberta; and a Bachelor of Science from Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta. John is active in consulting and volunteer roles internationally and in western Canada. Among other things, he is Coordinator of the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture Policy Committee and Director of the Biodiversity and Research Grants Program of the Alberta Conservation Association. John maintains an active research and teaching schedule and is a Professional Agrologist. He and his spouse Naomi and their two sons live and raise quarter horses on the family farm near Kingman, Alberta.
PCAP’s Prairie’s Got the Goods Week is an annual series of webinars focusing on the goods and services provided by the native prairie ecosystem.
Hosted by: Caitlin Mroz-Sailer, Stewardship Coordinator, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan