Native prairie vegetation holds snow and rain so that water seeps down into the soil, instead of running off. This replenishes our groundwater aquifers, so necessary to human survival and well-being. Native prairie provides a tangible benchmark against which we can compare change in disturbed areas. Native prairie areas are vitally important to complete basic scientific and ecological research, and to further our knowledge on how to appropriately manage natural systems. The prairie landscape, and the many natural resources associated with it, are significant assets that are an important part of Alberta's economy.
Prairie soils provide a rich growth medium for a range of agricultural crops.
In turn, crop production supports agricultural industries such as sugar beet and potato processing, breweries, seed cleaning plants, storage facilities and similar activities. More than 116,000 Albertan's were employed in agri-food industries in 1996 and farm cash receipts for prairie farms totalled over five million dollars. In 1998 more than 12 million hectares of land, mostly on Alberta's prairies, were seeded to major field crops alone. Native prairie, when used as rangeland for cattle, adds millions of dollars each year to the provincial economy. Beef production provides valuable protein for human consumption, and keeps native grasslands open for other uses.