Webinar Recording-Nurturing Nature: Fostering Biodiversity on Farms

This is a recording of a live webinar that took place on July 10th 2020. Understand why increasing biodiversity of native plants, insects and animals is important on farms, and learn about some of the programs that are available to help producers increase, conserve or protect critical species & habitat.

Guest Speakers:

• Stephanie Frischie, Ph.D., Agronomist / Native Plant Materials Specialist, Xerces Society

Stephanie provides pollinator habitat expertise to farms in Canada and the U.S. She also works with the native seed industry and researchers to plan and develop seed supply of important plant species for restoration of insect habitat. Before joining Xerces, Stephanie conducted research on the potential of native cover crops in Spanish olive orchards at Semillas Silvestres, S.L. through the NASSTEC (Native Seed Science, Technology and Conservation) grant. Previously she was Plant Materials and Conservation Programs Manager for eleven years at the Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands Restoration in northwest Indiana. Stephanie volunteers as a rare plant monitor with Plants of Concern and is the secretary of the International Network for Seed-based Restoration. Stephanie has been part of restoring over 8000 acres in the central U.S. and has published several peer reviewed articles. She serves as Secretary for the International Network for Seed-based Restoration. Stephanie is based in northwest Indiana.

• Shirley Bartz, M.Sc., Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan

Shirley Bartz was born and raised far from the Prairies. Whether she was backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, cross country skiing in the Los Padres National Forest, or rock-hopping in the hoodoos of Joshua Tree, Shirley was always watching birds, chasing lizards, staring at bugs and tracking mammals. Following her passion for studying living things, Shirley completed a B.Sc. in wildlife management, worked as a field biologist for 10 years, and then completed an M.Sc. in biology. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Winnipeg and soon settled out in Regina. In the 13 years that she’s lived in the Prairies, she’s found the rolling grasslands as comforting as the sage and chaparral of her native southwestern U.S., and takes a similar joy in feeling small under the Prairie sky as she did on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Shirley delights in sharing her passion for stewardship of rare species, and in reciprocal learning about conservation and restoration of native ecosystems. While in her temporary position as Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Shirley is looking forward to applying her experience engaging with multi-use land owners and monitoring species at risk. She hopes to continue working with Nature Saskatchewan long into the future.