The Rangeland Sustainability Program
Alberta Environment and Parks is once again offering a grant program for rangeland initiatives. The Rangeland Sustainability Program aims to promote the conservation and long-term sustainability of Alberta’s rangelands and the ecosystem services these working landscapes provide to Albertans, through the following objectives:
- Support Albertans and industry stakeholders in their efforts to implement rangeland stewardship through education initiatives and tool development.
- Support research programs that increase knowledge and understanding of rangeland management to achieve long-term sustainability outcomes.
- Remove barriers to successful stewardship for rangeland managers to support economic, social and environmental outcomes.
Funding for the program comes from a portion of the revenue collected from grazing disposition rental fees (grazing leases, licenses and permits). An estimated $200,000 will be available for the 2022-23 round of applications. Although individuals cannot apply for this funding, they may work with eligible applicants, which include:
- Non-government organizations registered under the Alberta Societies Act (ASA)
- Other non-government organizations (those that may not be registered under the ASA but are still considered not-for-profit)
- Municipalities
- Indigenous communities
- Academia and educational institutions
Eligible projects include a broad range of topics, including rangeland restoration or reclamation, multiple use conflicts or integration, wildfire and climate related resilience or adaptation, ecological goods and services, and education or extension activities and applied research.
The website for the program hosts all information surrounding the grant program, including past approved projects and the application form: www.alberta.ca/rangeland-sustainability-program.aspx. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2022. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact the program coordinator at AEP.RSP@gov.ab.ca.