Conserving grassland ecosystems in Saskatchewan has global impact

Dec 13, 2022

The UN Biodiversity Conference "COP-15" continues in Montreal this week.

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focus centers around protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss around the world.

Cameron Wood, a Director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada says conserving grassland ecosystems in Saskatchewan has global impact.

Currently, the world is facing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Protecting these lands and waters are important for providing habitat for species at risk and storing carbon. These valuable places are truly our allies in facing the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Did you know that more than 80 per cent of Saskatchewan’s grasslands have already disappeared? Temperate grasslands, such as Canada’s prairies, are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world, and their loss means that many native species are now critically endangered.

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Video: Midwest Weather Shock: Flash Drought Turns Into Heavy Rain Threat This Week (2026 Forecast)

A rapidly changing Midwest weather pattern is unfolding in 2026 as areas that recently slipped into abnormal dryness and flash drought conditions are now facing the threat of heavy rain and repeated storm systems.

After a wet spring erased early drought conditions, regions across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern Missouri have quickly dried out again since mid-to-late May. Soil moisture is dropping fast, and crops like corn and soybeans are beginning to feel the stress of rising temperatures and lack of consistent rainfall. Now, weather models show a major shift.

A developing system moving in from the Northern Plains is expected to bring multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall across the Midwest. While some areas may miss out, others could finally see much-needed relief from the growing dryness. In this video, we break down:

Current drought conditions across the Midwest

Why a flash drought is developing quickly

Timing and path of incoming storm systems

Which states are most likely to see heavy rain

How long this wet pattern could last

Will this rain end the drought or create new flooding risks? Watch the full forecast to find out.