Alberta study claims livestock grazing around the world harms wildlife.Ottawa—With 44 million acres of pastureland in use, Canadian beef farmers have put a lot of work into ensuring their grazing livestock aren't harming the environment, says the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.Close partnerships with many wildlife, nature and conservation organizations ensures that livestock production is balanced with ecosystem needs, CCA said in response to a University of Alberta study that is critical of livestock grazing globally.“Enhancing biodiversity is a foundational goal of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) and research is currently underway to compile indicators and databases to address biodiversity loss on both a regional and national scale, as well as goals to enhance positive biodiversity outcomes on beef production land,” CCA said.The study led by University of Alberta researchers examined information from around the world. “We looked at the effects of livestock grazing on every continent except Antarctica and what it means for biodiversity,” said lead author Alessandro Filazzola. “Livestock grazers consume the plants where they are found, which could have effects that trickle up the food web, such as reducing food resources for herbivores.”The researchers compiled thousands of papers and more than 100 datasets comparing areas where livestock graze to areas without livestock. The results suggest many wildlife species are negatively affected, she said.CCA said, “Livestock grazing effects vary greatly across different ecosystems and regions and with different levels of grazing intensity and grazing history.” In Alberta's grasslands, “moderate stocking rates have peak diversity, whereas, high stocking rates and no stocking have lower diversity. Although, the best grazing practices will be region-specific as they depend on climate and species composition.The Canadian beef industry supports research and management practices to protect and enhance biodiversity on pastureland, CCA said. It would like government investment and expansion in successful conservation projects such as Species at Risk Partnership on Agricultural Land and Species at Risk, which provide tools and resources to ensure habitat for at risk species, many of which encourage collaboration with beef producers.“The CRSB is also providing valuable agriculture-based input in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, on the development of a Conservation Action Plan for Canada, CCA said.“Canadian beef production is largely responsible for preserving what little remains of our country's endangered native grasslands. These ecosystems originated with a grazer as the keystone species and depend on grazing, ground disturbance and manure to keep them functioning and healthy.“While using just 33 per cent of Canada's agricultural land, beef farmers and producers provide 68 per cent of the wildlife habitat. The 2019 State of Canada's Birds Report showed that grassland birds that depend on native grasslands have declined 87 per cent since 1970.”The report says “beneficial grazing on public and private lands is critical for the creation and maintenance of grassland bird habitat. Sustainability of the industry requires good stewardship of the land and this includes the ability for plants and wildlife to flourish while producing the highest quality Canadian beef.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.