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Livestock production in many regions of North America is coming under significant economic pressure, including rising production costs, increasing regulatory constraints, as well as competing land uses. Revenue diversification from perennial grasslands to include environmental goods and services (EG&S) could provide an alternative framework within which these agro-ecosystems can be managed, and may provide both socio-economic and environmental benefits. Despite this, policies to reward landowners for EG&S remain poorly developed at this time. In this poster, we introduce an ongoing research project intended to more fully understand the role of grasslands in storing carbon. Where carbon storage can be increased, this process could offset increases in atmospheric CO2 associated with industrial activities. We are developing carbon profiles that include vegetation and soil components across a large number of sites in the northern temperate grasslands of Alberta, Canada. To do this, we are sampling soils inside and outside 120 long-term livestock exclosures maintained by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and which represent a wide agro-climatic gradient (~300-500 mm precipitation) across the region. Soils will be assessed for carbon stores, and interpreted using a combination of soil physical properties, as well as detailed vegetation data. Collectively, this information will provide an understanding of the role of livestock grazing, growing conditions, and plant community composition in regulating carbon storage. We expect the results of this study to inform policy makers on the importance of grasslands for carbon storage, and help identify strategies to reward livestock producers for this environmental service.