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ALUS Canada supports environmental stewardship on farms and ranches - ALUS

Sustaining agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians—one acre at a time.

ALUS makes it easy for agriculture to be part of the solution, producing ecosystem services to benefit us all.
Learn more: Click to view the new ALUS Canada brochure…

The ALUS program helps farmers and ranchers produce cleaner air, cleaner water, and more habitat for wildlife and pollinators in their communities. Brought to you by ALUS Canada, A Weston Family Initiative—a recognized leader in sustainability that is revolutionizing the way Canadians support the environment—ALUS makes it easy for agriculture to be part of the solution, producing ecosystem services to benefit us all.

ALUS Planting Projects

ALUS tree- and shrub-planting projects produce acres of habitat and help create wildlife corridors across the working landscape. Pictured here: ALUS Peterborough tree-planting project, Ontario.

Benefits of ALUS

ALUS projects produce results: Cleaner air, cleaner water, carbon capture, flood mitigation, climate adaptation and biodiversity, including wildlife and pollinator habitat. These are just a few of the valuable ecosystem services produced by ALUS participants on their farms and ranches. Learn more about ecosystem services here. 

ALUS Riparian Projects

ALUS riparian projects provide wildlife habitat and capture phosphorus and soil erosion from agricultural runoff to improve water quality in streams, rivers and lakes. Pictured here: Guided tour of an ALUS Elgin riparian project, Ontario.

How it Works

ALUS Canada is a nationally registered charitable organization that relies on generous funding from public and private sources. Every dollar we contribute is multiplied by the investment of farmers, ranchers and communities on the ground. Both individuals and organizations can help ALUS create a healthy landscape that sustains agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians, one acre at a time. Learn more about supporting ALUS here.

ALUS Wetland Projects

ALUS wetland projects hold water on the landscape, to help protect communities against flooding, offset the impact of droughts and provide wildlife habitat. Pictured here: ALUS Vermilion River enhanced wetland project, Alberta

ALUS in Action

ALUS invests in environmental stewardship on Canadian farms and ranches. The program currently supports tens of thousands of acres of wetland, grassland and woodland projects across Canada, where help farmers and ranchers manage and maintain windbreaks, riparian buffer zones, wildlife habitat and other types of beneficial projects that are suited to local needs and priorities.

ALUS Pollinator Projects

ALUS pollinator projects (hedgerows, buffer strips and meadows) provide much-needed habitat for native bees, butterflies and other important pollinators. Pictured here: ALUS Ontario East pollinator buffer strip, Ontario.

Community-Led

ALUS Canada partners with local organizations to deliver the program on the ground, supporting a community-developed, farmer-delivered program on a national scale in its Western Hub, Prairie Hub, Eastern Hub and Atlantic Hub. ALUS is proud to work with dozens of community partners to have a powerful impact on the environment across Canada. Each ALUS community is strong and unique, determining its own priorities while benefitting from a shared set of ALUS principles and a central support system. To find out if there is a program in your area, visit the map of ALUS Communities here.

ALUS Fencing Projects

Wildlife-friendly fencing keeps cattle out of streams to keep the water clean and protect fish habitat. Pictured here: ALUS Vermilion River exclusion-fencing project, Alberta.

Farmer-Delivered

Here’s what some farmers and ranchers have to say about ALUS:

“I am very proud to be part of ALUS. I like that the program calls on those who know the land better than anyone else to work with nature and produce ecosystem services that truly have an impact.”

–Duane Movald (Movald Ranches), ALUS Brazeau, Alberta

 

“We are agricultural producers. Our main role is to produce food. But we are also stewards of the land. We are continually trying to improve the environmental footprint of our farm, and the ALUS program is a great help with that.”

–Johnny Gallant (Ferme Gallant Ltée), ALUS P.E.I., Prince Edward Island

 

“It’s important to take care of the land for future generations. As a farmer, I am happy to give up some profit now if it means the land and the water will remain healthy for my daughters in the future.”

–Olivier Martin (Ferme Gestion Petit Manoir), ALUS Montérégie, Quebec

 

“I like being part of ALUS because it is making a difference. We can see that moose and deer have been coming back to the area along the creek. The water is cleaner, too.”

–Charlie and Theresa Maltais, ALUS Brazeau, Alberta.

ALUS Grassland Projects

ALUS grassland projects sequester carbon, boost biodiversity and provide critical habitat for species at risk. Pictured here: ALUS Lambton participants Scott and Susan Stephens and their native tallgrass prairie project, Ontario.

 

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