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Alberta is expanding its efforts to protect natural landscapes while continuing to support the landowners and rural communities who depend on them for their livelihoods.
The provincial government has announced nearly $5 million in new funding aimed at conserving environmentally significant areas across the province through partnerships with landowners, municipalities, and conservation organizations.
At the heart of the initiative is the recognition that conservation and working landscapes can exist side by side. Rather than removing land from productive use, the programs are designed to support stewardship practices that maintain agriculture, grazing, and rural livelihoods while protecting biodiversity, water systems, and native habitats.
Through the Private Land Conservation Program, $2.8 million has been awarded to five projects that will help conserve more than 8,500 acres of private land. These projects are focused on long-term protection agreements with landowners and land trusts, ensuring that ecologically sensitive areas remain intact for future generations.
In addition, the Ecosystem Services Grant Program has provided more than $2.1 million to five further projects aimed at improving land stewardship practices. These initiatives support landowners in maintaining and enhancing ecosystems on their properties, with a focus on soil health, water quality, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat. Together, these projects are expected to support stewardship across at least 8,800 acres.
According to the province, landowners play a central role in conservation efforts, helping to balance economic activity with environmental responsibility.
“Landowners are crucial partners in conservation programs that create opportunities for sustainable land use and keep people working. We’re supporting projects that align conservation goals with landowner needs, maximizing every dollar,” said Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.
Among the funded initiatives is a project led by the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, which focuses on supporting ranchers through stewardship-based payments for measurable ecological outcomes on rangelands and riparian areas.
Other projects include the long-term protection of natural woodlands and waterways in the Tawatinaw Valley, as well as conservation efforts in Clearwater County aimed at preserving wetlands and riparian habitat important for species at risk.
Further south, additional initiatives are helping retain grasslands and coulees that provide critical wildlife corridors, pollinator habitat, and natural water filtration systems.
Together, these efforts aim to safeguard Alberta’s watersheds, grasslands, and wetlands while maintaining the productivity and sustainability of working agricultural landscapes.
The Ecosystem Services Grant Program also assists landowners in covering the costs of maintaining lands with high ecological value. These areas not only support biodiversity but also help absorb rainfall, reduce runoff, and contribute to long-term environmental resilience.
Applications for the 2026–27 funding intake for both programs will open in June and remain open until September.
More information is available through the Government of Alberta website.
Information for this article was sourced from the Government of Alberta website.
