Deadline: 15-Sep-23
Organizations can apply for grant funding for projects promoting the conservation and long-term sustainability of Alberta’s rangelands.
The Rangeland Sustainability Program (RSP) works to promote the conservation and long-term sustainability of Alberta’s rangelands and the ecosystem services these working landscapes provide. Alberta’s Rangelands provide many ecological goods and services that benefit all Albertans. Clean air, fresh water, food, timber, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, soil stabilization, pollination, buffering from extreme weather events like floods and fires, and carbon sequestration and storage are all direct benefits from Alberta’s rangeland. Rangelands also provide a sustainable and renewable source of livestock forage, contributing to the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers and supporting the foundations of vibrant rural communities in Alberta.
The Rangeland Sustainability Program provides funding for collaborative projects with partners and stakeholders across the province that:
- support sustainable rangeland stewardship initiatives implemented by industry and stakeholders
- increase knowledge and understanding of rangeland management outcomes for long-term sustainability through research, education and tool development
- support rangeland initiatives that help producers overcome barriers to sustainability of rangelands
Funding for the Rangeland Sustainability Program grant funding comes from a portion of annual grazing rental revenue. The annual program budget changes annually as grazing rental revenue is based on a variable market-based rental (for example: cattle prices).
Priority Funding Themes
- Extension and education
- Increasing knowledge and awareness to improve rangeland sustainability.
- Increasing awareness and integrate new knowledge, tools and best practices into rangeland management for the benefit of rangelands sustainability.
- Research
- Undertaking new research that focuses on knowledge development and practice change leading to improved rangeland sustainability.
- Supporting research that benefits Alberta’s public rangelands, including linkages between rangeland management and ecosystem services.
- Supporting research for Alberta rangeland climate change adaptation and mitigation (for example, carbon storage).
- Supporting research for Alberta rangeland multiple use conflicts.
- Supporting the application of knowledge, such as implementation of a new practice that will result in improved rangeland sustainability.
- Stewardship (overcoming barriers)
- Projects that support development and implementation of adaptive management tools/beneficial management practices to integrate multiple use activities, and address emerging issues that have an impact on rangeland stewardship goals.
Eligible Projects
Some examples of projects that may receive funding through this program include:
- applied research demonstrating adaptive range management practices
- carbon sequestration research, extension and best management practices for rangelands
- climate change effects and adaptation on rangelands
- ecological restoration of native grasslands in areas of forest or brush encroachment
- enhancement of existing tools, development of new tools, practices, or strategies for rangeland sustainability
- grazing and timber integration
- livestock producer education and extension
- multiple use mitigation best practices on rangelands
- predation and cattle loss
- protection of species at risk
- rangeland management and ecosystem services
- rangeland reclamation and restoration research and training
- rangeland stewardship and adaptation
- rangeland wildfire resilience
- recreation and rangeland interactions
- riparian monitoring and management
- wildlife, livestock, and rangeland interactions
Who can apply?
- This program is not open to individual Albertans; however, individuals may collaborate with eligible applicants to develop projects. Eligible program applicants include:
- academia and educational institutions
- Indigenous communities and organizations
- municipalities
- Non-government organizations registered under the Alberta Societies Act (ASA)
- non-profit organizations (those that may not be registered under the ASA but are still considered not-for-profit)
Ineligible
- activities considered to be statutory requirements for disposition management
- any project directly or indirectly linked in reducing grazing rental
- any project requiring ongoing maintenance, repair/replacement – temporary solutions needing active maintenance
- costs for any activities where the primary purpose is to raise memberships or funds for the organization
- payments for predator livestock death
- purchase of land or conservation easement
For more information, visit Government of Alberta.