Sustaining Healthy Grasslands Workshop 2006:
The Principles and Applications of Grassland Restoration

Grand Forks, BC
Saturday, June 17, 2006

Symposium Goal and Objectives

The goal of the 2006 Sustaining Healthy Grasslands Workshop is to begin a dialogue concerning the principles and applications for restoring grassland ecosystems following disturbance. The aim is to educate all stakeholders about the restoration of grasslands that have been damaged by fire, invasive plants, recreational vehicle damage and over-grazing. .

Objectives:

• Bring together stakeholders in recreational groups, as well as land use planners, governments, the ranching community, First Nations and conservation interests;

• Demonstrate the kinds of disturbance and the steps that can be taken to restore grassland habitats to their former productivity

• Learn from each other and begin working together to restore disturbed grasslands and to protect existing grassland habitats from future disturbance.

The restoration of grassland ecosystems has been practiced for many years in various forms and with various degrees of success. As has been discovered by previous attempts at restoration, there is no quick fix. Long term solutions will require a commitment of both time and resources. In the case of fire, which may be regarded as a more “natural process” grassland may to some degree restore itself but there are a number of activities that can enhance the process. Replanting of native grasses along with proscriptions to discourage forest encroachment and weed growth will foster the re-establishing of a viable grassland ecosystem.

The encroachment by trees and non-native species on grasslands is a much more complex problem. Forestry values have to be taken into consideration. As part of this discussion, the role of the Pine Bark Beetle and climate change have to be factored in making for a much more complex discussion. The elimination or reduction of invasive non-native species (i.e. weeds) is also controversial. Tillage is both expensive and dependant on terrain. The use of herbicides and biological controls are options that have both positive and negative attributes.

The workshop began with a general session presenting an overview of the importance of grasslands restoration. Speakers addressed the specific nature of each of the three main topics: restoration following incursion by invasive plants, restoration following intensive grazing and a landowners perspective and experience in restoration using native seed. Speakers included representatives from the following sectors:

• Ecologists
• Agronomists
• Academics
• Recreational user groups
• Ministry of Forests and Range
• Land owners

Following the initial presentations, participants travelled to local sites that illustrate particular types of damage and restoration methodology. Presenters will illustrate the nature and extent of the damage; the mitigative efforts and the results. Once, all sites were viewed, the workshop attendees reconvened. Speakers then presented examples of successful restoration efforts.

The day ended with a solutions-based brainstorming session on how interests can work collaboratively on implementing the ideas and solutions generated throughout the day.