Jenna Leblanc- University of Toronto, PhD Candidate

Foothills fescue grasslands, AB (Photo by Leta Pezderic)

What is the problem you are looking to solve or the question you are looking to answer?

I’m looking to develop techniques for restoring degraded native grasslands that use a whole-systems approach to ecosystem restoration. How do we rebuild the soil, plant community and *trophic web in a way that creates resilient, multifunctional prairies in the midst of changing climates and landscapes?

Can you give us a general description of the project?

This multi-year project will include a survey of native grassland sites across southern Alberta that have been, or are being restored. The survey will compare the impact of historical land use and management on the diversity and general health of the prairie ecosystem found at each site. A second component of the project is a large-scale field study based in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, which will explore new methods of restoring native fescue grassland to an old pasture field in the middle of a working ranch. These components will be combined with community roundtables and information sessions about grassland restoration in the province, to develop interdisciplinary strategies for the future conservation and restoration of this threatened habitat in Albert

What will you learn from your project?

I’ll learn more about how site history and management practices affect the underlying conditions that might make a grassland restoration more or less achievable, and which elements of the restoration process we can best manipulate to successfully restore a degraded property. I’ll also be able to identify common misconceptions that the general public might have about grasslands and grassland restoration, and how we can better communicate our prairie conservation goals to gain support from private landowners and park visitors.

How can this project benefit NCC’s work and other conservation initiatives?

This project will build a province-wide context for comparing grassland restoration projects and how restoration relates to land use history and management practices. One of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) properties will be directly studied and put into this greater context, which may help guide the development of similar restoration projects in the future. My field study will also provide a basis of comparison between more traditional restoration practices and the more novel techniques I’ll be experimenting with, hopefully offering a new suite of restoration tools that NCC and other conservation/restoration organizations can use in their future endeavours.

What is your favourite part of the project you are working on?

I have really enjoyed tracing the historical context of prairie settlement/development in the province to the current challenges that grassland restoration researchers are facing today. Scientific rigour is great, but the culture and history of a particular landscape are also incredibly important when it comes to figuring out how best to preserve and protect native ecosystems. I’m hoping that by building up a “whole story” picture in my head before getting out into the field, I can better communicate my research and passion for the project with the people I’ll be collaborating with.

What gets you excited about the species/habitat your project is investigating?

Grasslands are beautiful and seriously underappreciated. They’re home to a huge diversity of wildflowers and rare animals that you can’t find in any other ecosystem. I love getting out on the land and discovering new, beautiful prairie plants, or watching grassland birds and animals in their native habitat. And I’m always excited to share the beauty of the Prairies with people who aren’t familiar with just how diverse and special they can be.  

What is the impact you are hoping to achieve in Alberta (or beyond) with the project you are involved with?

I want to build a greater appreciation for the grasslands than people give them credit for. I’m also very keen on bringing my research directly to the general public. Great grassland research and restoration work is being done across the province, but if it isn’t easily accessible to a broader audience, its impact will be limited to the scientific community. I want to aid in fostering a provincial dialogue about the Prairies, to get people excited about grasslands and set a greater precedent for respecting, conserving and restoring this special ecosystem supported by all levels of the community.

Is there a place where people who are interested in your project can go to learn more?

Website is forthcoming but you can follow me on Twitter @phylojenie.