Do you work in grassland assessment or reclamation? An understanding of the concepts of range ecology is an important skill for designing effective conservation and restoration of native grasslands. This one day, classroom-based course presents the theory behind Alberta’s prairie and foothills Range Plant Community Guide manuals and guided practice using them. A unique opportunity to learn and apply these concepts beyond the constraints of a full semester course. It will provide context for applying data collected during pre-disturbance site assessment, developing a recovery strategy for impacts to native grasslands for development, and reclamation planning.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a basic understanding of the two ecosystem classification systems for the Grassland and Foothills Parkland Range Plant Community Guides.
• Learn how to navigate through the guides to link site conditions, soils and determine plant communities. Participants will practice on data sets for each of the two rangeland classification systems.
• Overview of disturbance risk assessments and strategic siting for grassland plant communities.
• Explore appropriate restoration strategies linked to types of disturbance for the plant communities discussed.

Target Audience

Designed for planners, reclamation practitioners, agrologists, ecologists, land stewards, regulators, students, and anyone interested in learning more about native grassland classification, strategic siting of potential disturbances, and recovery strategies planning.

Registration $250 per person. Maximum 30 registrants. Limited student registration at $100 per person.

Register on-line via Paypal at www.grasslandrestorationforum.ca or contact info.grf.ab@gmail.com for student rates. There is a $50 administration fee for registration cancellations up to 48 hours in advance of an event. Sorry, no cancellations after that.

Bring your own lunch. Lunch will not be provided, and the site is out of town.

Course Materials Hard copies will be available at the event and digitally on the GRF website.

“Recovery Strategies for Industrial Development in Native Grassland for the Mixedgrass Natural Subregion – 2^nd Edition” (to keep)

“Range Plant Communities and Range Health Assessment Guidelines for the Dry Mixedgrass Natural Subregion of Alberta” (loaners – available for purchase at the event for $25)

“Range Plant Communities and Range Health Assessment Guidelines for the Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion of Alberta” (loaners – – available for purchase at the event for $25)

Sponsorship GRF’s goal is to ensure that events and information are accessible to everyone. We rely on sponsorship to help with cost recovery, course accessibility, and continuation of the Grassland Restoration Forum. Please contact info.grf.ab@gmail.comif you, or your organization, are interested in sponsoring this event.