Postcards from the Field: Stephen Gietz

Shell Conservation Intern Stephen Gietz

Hello from the swamp!

When you hear the name Tall Grass Prairie you may at first imagine a large overgrown field. Not so. This landscape is quite often lush and diverse with hundreds of different species from the dry prairie uplands to the lower lying, wet swamp habitats. Yes, there is swamp in the Tall Grass Prairie.

As a graduate from the University of Winnipeg with a BSc in environmental studies, I was unsure of where I really wanted to go when I finished school. During my tenure as a student I became increasingly interested in the area of conservation. So, being a part of the conservation effort as a Shell Conservation Intern with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has been an incredible opportunity.

Fillion Property, Tall Grass Prairie, Manitoba

This summer I have had the privilege to work in the wetter areas of the Tall Grass Prairie. These often forgotten areas (some have not been visited since the Dominion Land Survey) are exciting and unique, each in their own way. For those not familiar with identifying  plants, a swampy wet area may look like a bunch of grass, but in fact it is a collection of many different species, including rushes, sedges, grasses, shrubs, forbs and the occasional group of trees. This diversity is what I feel makes this area so unique: it may all look the same, but in reality, there is a wide range of vegetation communities.

In the few short months that I have been with NCC as a Shell Conservation Intern, I have learned a lot and gained many new skills.  This opportunity has given me insight into where I want to head in the future in terms of my career and the skills necessary to get there.

See you in the swamp,

Stephen Gietz