North American Grazing Lands Congress Highlights Role of Canadian Rangelands in Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resilience

The North American Grazing Lands Congress brought together ranchers, conservation groups, and UN FAO officials in southern Alberta to showcase how managed grazing on rangelands supports carbon storage, biodiversity, and food production. The event was part of the UN's International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, highlighting that grasslands are among Canada's most endangered ecosystems yet play a critical role in capturing carbon and protecting watersheds. Ranchers demonstrated how grazing management improves grassland health, with tours of the South Porcupine Ranch and Waldron Ranch Grazing Co-operative. Discussions addressed pressures like economic volatility, weather patterns, and land conversion to other uses. The Canadian Cattle Association emphasized that beef cattle farmers are key to preserving these ecosystems, which house species at risk and store significant amounts of carbon. The Congress concluded with a call for collaboration among producers, governments, Indigenous communities, and conservation groups to support ranchers in maintaining healthy grazing lands for future generations, reinforcing the link between sustainable livestock management and climate resilience.