Podchats 18 | Grassland Ecosystems & Oak Meadows of Cascadia with Nancy Shackelford

Grasslands are incredibly biodiverse and carbon rich ecosystems that perform numerous ecological functions, yet many of them across Turtle Island have all declined for various reasons, whether that be decades of development, fire suppression, removal of grazing animals, introduction of invasive species and lack of Indigenous stewardship or a combination of them all.  Here in coastal Cascadia, our native Oak Meadow Grasslands play an important role within many First Nations cultures and are the most biodiverse ecosystem we have.  Sadly, they’re also the most threatened, down to less that 5% of their native range in BC alone.  

I sat down with Nancy Shackelford, assistant professor at Uvic & director of the Restoration of Natural Systems Program, to chat all about what makes these wonderful ecosystems so unique, what threatens them, and what we can do to ensure their health for a better tomorrow.

Restoration Futures Lab

Grasslands Conservation Council of BC

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Learn more about this episodes sponsor, Hoka & their new Anacapa 2