ALUS came to eastern Ontario in 2012. Today, ALUS Ontario East operates within the Raisin Region and South Nation Conservation Authorities’ watersheds and other areas. The program is led by the local Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) with assistance from its legal entity, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority. The PAC is comprised of members from both the local farming and environmental communities.
ALUS Ontario East works with farmers and ranchers to enhance ecosystem services on marginal, uneconomic, and fragile areas and on lands that can be managed to enhance environmental stewardship while integrating with their existing farming operations. ALUS participants receive an annual payment for every acre enrolled in the program in exchange for managing and maintaining projects that increase ecosystem services to that benefit both their farm and wider community.
ALUS Ontario East supports the establishment, management, and maintenance of various innovative and sustainable projects such as wetlands and beaver baffles, erosion control, buffers, windbreaks, grasslands, modified grazing practices, livestock exclusion fencing, and more. ALUS is voluntary and non-prescriptive, which allows for increased flexibility when designing projects to suit any farming operation. The program is always on the lookout for interesting and innovative project ideas that will bring together agriculture and nature.
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News & Events
Ron Toonders, Switchgrass for Grassroots Resilience
Farmers like Ron Toonders are building resilient practices that benefit nature and the agricultural landscape in Ontario This photo depicts the root system of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum. (Grown at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas) In the hot summer months,...
Currie McIntosh; Happily Creating Habitat at Haywood Farms
The McIntosh family is promoting biodiversity through their environmental projects on their farm in Ontario Currie McIntosh stands in front of the stormwater retention pond project he constructed with ALUS in 2020. In the fall of 2023, farmers and ranchers visited...
Seed Superstar: Marc Bercier Grows Environmental Outcomes
Building on family legacy, Marc Bercier manages the landscape for the benefit of his community and future generations. ALUS team members visit Marc's project in St.Isidore during the October 2022 Eastern Jamboree. Marc Bercier is a famer and businessman...
ALUS Ontario East Coordinator
Glenn Mackey, Chair, resident of Augusta
Marc Bercier, Vice-Chair, resident of La Nation
John Van Turnhout, Past Chair, resident of North Stormont
William Robertson, resident of South Glengarry
Kurt MacSweyn, resident of North Glengarry
Jacqueline Pemberton, resident of North Dundas
Ian Walker, resident of Alfred and Plantagenet
Stephen Burgess, resident of South Glengarry
Rene Lalonde, resident of North Stormont
Lisa Van De Ligt, Advisor, Raisin Region Conservation Authority
Ronda Boutz, Advisor, South Nation Conservation
Elaine Kennedy, PAC Facilitator, Advisor, SD&G Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association
Jean Saint-Pierre, Advisor, Boisés Est
Mikayla Stinson, Advisor, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Benoit Lebeau, Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs