Supporting conservation in Alberta

Alberta's government is investing nearly $5 million to help landowners protect natural areas while keeping people employed across the province.

Two programs are distributing the funding. The Private Land Conservation Program has awarded $2.8 million in grants to five projects that will conserve more than 8,500 acres. The Ecosystem Services Grant Program has awarded more than $2.1 million to five additional projects targeting at least 8,800 acres of ecologically valuable private land.

Together, the 10 projects will help land trusts and landowners protect watersheds, riparian zones and grasslands while keeping agricultural lands productive.

"Landowners are crucial partners in conservation programs that create opportunities for sustainable land use and keep people working," said Grant Hunter, minister of Environment and Protected Areas. "We're supporting projects that align conservation goals with landowner needs, maximizing every dollar."

Recipients include the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, whose Grasslands for Life project will pay ranchers annual per-acre fees for measurable stewardship outcomes on native rangeland and riparian areas. In northern Alberta, a grant to the Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca will protect more than 245 acres of natural woods and waterways in the Tawatinaw Valley for at least 20 years.

The application period for 2026-27 funding under both programs opens in June and runs until September. Details are available at alberta.ca.

Source: Government of Alberta