1 - What IS a Grassland?

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Forage and Grasslands Unpacked, a Canadian Forage and Grassland Association podcast exploring forage, grasslands, and grazing through a multifocal lens. This season opens by grounding listeners in a deceptively simple question: What is a grassland?Host Cedric MacLeod sits down with Dr. John Pattison‑Williams, natural resource economist and producer, and Heather Peat Hamm, botanist and plant ecologist, to unpack the many ways grasslands are understood — from native prairie to tame pasture, from ecological function to cultural significance. Together, they explore why these landscapes matter for biodiversity, climate solutions, agricultural livelihoods, and the communities who steward them.This episode sets the stage for a season of conversations featuring producers, researchers, Indigenous voices, youth, policy makers, and land stewards from across Canada.