UPA Montérégie and ALUS are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the ALUS Montérégie program.
ALUS Montérégie participant Oliver Martin pictured during a tour of his ALUS projects in 2019. Photo: Sophie Carron.
Established in 2016, ALUS Montérégie was the first program in Quebec to offer a monetary reward to farmers who carry out biodiversity enhancement projects on their farms.
In five years, the ALUS Montérégie program has provided monetary compensation and support to more than 80 farms in the region. Together, these farmers and ranchers devote more than 160 acres of agricultural land—116 football fields—to the development of ecosystem goods and services in more than 44 municipalities throughout Montérégie. Specifically, 295 km of ecobuffers and 122 km of herbaceous buffers favouring pollinators have been created, while trees have been planted on marginal lands and around ponds.
ALUS projects have real, tangible impacts , including odour reduction, absorption of pollutants from the air and reduction of pesticides, nutrients and sediment in waterways.
“We can be proud of the efforts farmers are making, and the results are real. Rewarding farmers for their projects is one way to recognize and value the commitment of all farmers, who bring so many benefits for the environment and our communities,” said Jérémie Letellier, president of UPA Montérégie. “Over the next few years, we hope to support even more farms in their projects!”
ALUS MONTÉRÉGIE, 5 YEARS OF HISTORY
To mark the occasion, UPA Montérégie has produced a video that recounts the history and the highlights of the first 5 years of the ALUS Montérégie program.
Resident of Montérégie? Follow this link for more information about ALUS in your community.
