Producing Ecosystem Services through Nature-based Solutions

What We Do

The ALUS program is a scalable, turn-key solution developed at the community level that engages farmers and ranchers in creating, restoring and enhancing new acres of nature to respond to local environmental challenges, help build community resilience and fight climate change and biodiversity loss.

Our Guiding Principles

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Community-developed

The ALUS program is flexible. It is designed to be customized by local communities to respect local agricultural and environmental priorities, and help create rural resilience.

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Farmer-delivered

Agricultural producers are in a unique position to provide important solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, including climate change and biodiversity loss.

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Science-based

Based on sound scientific principles and verification guidelines, ALUS provides valuable support and technical expertise for the design and implementation of natural infrastructure projects and nature-based solutions.

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Market-driven

The ecological services produced by ALUS projects have economic value on the marketplace, which ALUS is actively developing. Citizens, corporations and philanthropists invest directly in environmental stewardship.

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Integrated

The delivery of the ALUS program is intended to complement existing conservation programs, including federal and provincial government policy frameworks.

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Targeted

The ALUS program produces ecosystem services on marginal and ecologically sensitive parcels and on lands that can be managed in a different manner.

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Accountable

ALUS projects are independently monitored, verified and audited by trusted farm organizations or reliable institutions. Data collection respects the highest standards in data integrity and confidentiality. 

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Voluntary

Farmers and ranchers who choose to participate in the ALUS program have flexible agreements that suit their operation and offer them financial compensation for their ecosystem management.

Examples of ALUS Projects

Community Projects

ALUS partnerships help build vibrant communities by implementing the program through a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of local farmers, community stakeholders and other NGOs. This allows each community program to address specific local environmental challenges and work collaboratively towards implementing sustainable solutions. ALUS provides financial and technical support for the implementation of these projects and annual payments to its participants for the production of ecosystem services and the ongoing stewardship of projects.

Christian Lalande
Christian Lalande

Community Projects

ALUS partnerships help build vibrant communities by implementing the program through a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of local farmers, community stakeholders and other NGOs. This allows each community program to address specific local environmental challenges and work collaboratively towards implementing sustainable solutions. ALUS provides financial and technical support for the implementation of these projects and annual payments to its participants for the production of ecosystem services and the ongoing stewardship of projects. 

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Ecosystem Services

ALUS network consists of more than 1,600 farmers and ranchers in 38 communities who deliver ecosystem services in their communities, such as cleaner air, cleaner water, carbon sequestration, erosion control, flood and drought mitigation, pollinator and wildlife habitat. On more than 46,000 acres, these farmers and ranchers restore wetlands, install riparian buffers, plant windbreaks and ecobuffers, manage sustainable drainage systems, create pollinator habitat and establish other ecologically beneficial projects.

Innovation & Technology

ALUS provides participating communities with innovative technology and data infrastructures and tools. With these tailored solutions, ALUS captures detailed information about the benefits of ecosystem projects across the country, quantifying carbon sequestration, nutrient capture and biodiversity benefits. These data and technologies can then be applied to make strategic decisions about projects to ensure they deliver maximum ecological and financial benefit to the community.

Modeste Watershed Map
Modeste Watershed Map

Innovation & Technology

ALUS provides participating communities with innovative technology and data infrastructures and tools. With these tailored solutions, ALUS captures detailed information about the benefits of ecosystem projects across the country, quantifying carbon sequestration, nutrient capture and biodiversity benefits. These data and technologies can then be applied to make strategic decisions about projects to ensure they deliver maximum ecological and financial benefit to the community.

ALUS by the Numbers

2022 Snapshot of ALUS’ On the Ground Impact

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Active provinces

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ALUS communities +3 since last year

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Farmers and ranchers participating +390 since last year

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Acres of wetland ecosystems +6,919 since last year

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Acres of pollinator habitat +8,550 since last year

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Acres reforested with native trees and shrubs +1,243 since last year

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Acres of ALUS land +10,006 since last year

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Invested by ALUS +$7.5M since last year

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Thanks a million to farmers, ranchers and communities multiplying our investment on the ground

ALUS Community Projects

Farmers Invest in Nature for Big Impact

Farmers Invest in Nature for Big Impact

A profile of ALUS Norfolk participants Leah & Marty VanTilMarty & Leah VanTil with their ALUS wetland in the background. Credit: ALUS Norfolk.Located in Port Dover, Ontario, Leah and Marty VanTil’s 40-acre farm includes rolling hills and shallow valleys....

Carl Atkinson: Farming for the Long Term

Carl Atkinson: Farming for the Long Term

A profile of ALUS Norfolk Participant and community leader, Carl Atkinson. Carl Atkinson on his farm with a wetland in the background.Carl Atkinson and his wife Rhonda have been farming Ginseng in Norfolk County, Ontario, for 40 years. Although retirement is on the...

Phil Moddle Plants Trees for People and the Environment

Phil Moddle Plants Trees for People and the Environment

ALUS Middlesex participant Phil Moddle incorporates conventional farming, agritourism and environmental stewardship into Arrowwood Farm and Events  Phil Moddle with a white pine seedling on his farm in Middlesex County, Ontario. The sapling is a part of an ALUS tree...